Each Rensselaer squad left satisfied, as the men topped their counterparts 131-110, and the women bested their Hartwick competitors 131-112. The victories upped the men’s record to 3-0, and improved the women’s record to 1-2.

“It’s always been a real big deal for us to try to beat Hartwick,” admitted men’s captain Rob Olivo. “They’re a very big rival of ours, so for both men’s and women’s teams to do that in the same weekend was a really big accomplishment.”

The men were led by the four-pronged attack of senior captain Pat Fell, sophomore Mike Scibelli, and freshmen Matt Hiltner and Kevin Sheridan. Fell, in his first multiple-win meet of the season, won the 200-yard freestyle, the 500-yard freestyle, and was part of the meet-clinching 400-yard freestyle relay.

Scibelli not only joined Fell on the 400-yard freestyle relay team, he also won the 200-yard breaststroke and came in second in the 1000-yard freestyle.

Hiltner continued his outstanding freshman campaign, winning the 200-yard individual medley, the 200-yard butterfly, and finishing second in the 400-yard medley relay. Hiltner now has seven wins and two second place finishes through his first three collegiate meets.

Sheridan was another member of the 400-yard freestyle relay team, and added an additional win for RPI in the 100-yard freestyle.

Similarly, the Red Hawk women were also guided by four multiple-win performers. Senior captain Melissa Hershey was triumphant in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events again this week. She has now won all six diving events she’s entered so far this season.

Freshman Kelly Owens duplicated her strong performance from a week ago, winning the 200-yard breaststroke, the 400-yard freestyle relay, and coming in second in the 1000-yard freestyle. Fellow freshman Oya White broke into the win column for the first time this season, winning the 50-yard freestyle and joining Owens on the 400-yard freestyle relay team.

Sophomore Karel Schnebele also got in on the act, winning the 200-yard freestyle, finishing second in the 500-yard freestyle, and joining Owens and White on the 400-yard freestyle relay team.

In addition to the sweep of Hartwick, the Red Hawks were also elated as the Liberty League announced its weekly award winners. Rensselaer divers Greg Derevianko and Melissa Hershey were named Liberty League co-Divers of the Week for men and women, respectively.

Hershey has now received this honor for two consecutive weeks. Matt Hiltner also received some kudos from the Liberty League. He was named Men’s co-Rookie of the Week.

Interestingly, at this time last year, both Red Hawk squads found themselves at 0-3, fresh off a sweep at the hands of rival Hartwick. But so far this season, each team has been singing a different tune.

“We have a really strong group this year,” commented Olivo, “and so far it’s working out great.” Women’s captain Jen Byczek added, “I think a lot of us are just stepping up and filling the lanes and doing what needs to be done [this year].”

It should also be noted that despite the men’s and women’s slow starts last season, they ended their 2003-2004 campaigns strong. The men overcame their 0-3 start to finish second in the UCAA conference (last year’s version of the Liberty League), as well as coming in third out of 13 teams at the men’s state meet last February.

The women, also dealing with a 0-3 record, manifested a rally of their own, finishing fifth out of 15 teams at the women’s state meet.

What does this mean for this year’s group? “The fact that we’re so far ahead of [last season’s start] this year, it’s a good sign of what’s to come,” predicted Olivo.

Coming up next for the Red Hawks is a trip to Poughkeepsie, New York on Sunday, to take on the Brewers of Vassar College.