By: Joseph Keyser
In their hardest dual meet of the season, SUNY Brockport’s women’s swimming and diving team lost 223-77 to SUNY Geneseo, who is ranked 23rd nationally. Though the score showed a one-sided affair, the Golden Eagles didn’t go down without a fight.
“I think our athletes who have been here for a couple years and raced against them multiple times showed up really well,” Brockport head coach Zack Wahl said. “We have a lot to learn still. But I was encouraged by the attitude that we brought.”
The positive energy and encouragement are things that the team has worked on this season.
“We took a very different approach this fall,” Wahl said. “We spent a lot more time doing team bonding stuff. We had Saturdays where we would do little team competitions where they were split up into eight different groups with all the classes on a team to get to know each other. And we’ve been making sure to harp on positive energy in the pool and in practices, especially in the tough sessions and the weight room.”
Veteran swimmers are excited to have this new energy in practice.
“I am very thankful that the new recruits bring a positive vibe to the pool,” Brockport senior Elizabeth Sagan said. “Because I remind myself, and I try to remind others, that it’s good to be competitive. But most importantly, it’s good to remember to have fun. Being positive and having fun helps you get through the difficult seasons of swimming.”
“This group is unbelievable,” Brockport junior Hannah Pauly said. “They have an insane amount of talent. It’s so fun getting to work with them. They’re training really hard and it’s really inspiring to see a younger generation coming up through this program. They’re going to do amazing things.”
Sagan was the only Brockport swimmer to win a race against Geneseo, getting first place in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.91. She also placed second in the 100-yard freestyle with a 55.57 and third in the 200-yard freestyle with a 2:05.32.
Another Golden Eagle to have a good performance against the Lady Wave was sophomore diver Emma Conner, who earned second place in both diving events. Conner scored 218.15 in 1-meter diving and 223.75 in 3-meter diving.
“Today was a good showing for the divers,” Brockport diving coach Scott Horsington said. “[Lauren Savage] from Geneseo is probably going to be the national champion. So, I think it was good to go up against that tough competition and hold our own. Emma [Conner] is going to do really well against this team when we get to championships.”
Sarah Colwell placed fourth in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in 5:58.04.
Madeline Erhardt swam the 200-yard butterfly in 2:31.31, placing third.
Sarah Kilburn placed third in the 50-yard freestyle in 25.86 and fourth in the 100-yard butterfly finishing in 1:04.00.
Addy Martino placed second in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke, finishing in 1:12.60 and 2:36.25.
Hannah Ramos placed fourth in the 200-yard backstroke with a 2:25.51 and fourth in the 100-yard individual medley with a 1:10.69.
Qian Rappazzo swam the 400-yard individual medley in 5:25.61, placing fourth.
Lindsey Spitz placed fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in 1:17.42.
Miya Vitale finished second in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:04.32.
Emi Wilck swam the 200-yard butterfly in 2:41.35, earning fourth place.
Full meet results are available on Meet Mobile.
The Golden Eagles’ next meet is a tri-meet against Oneonta and Hartwick College on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at Hartwick.
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