The RPI men’s and women’s swimming teams had a very strong showing in two meets over the past week. The first was an individual meet against Union College on January 17 followed by the RPI women’s invitational hosted at Robison Pool over the weekend. The team split the meet with Union College as the men’s team won an important victory over the Union men, while the women fell to Union.

The seven teams that competed in the RPI women’s invitational were Cortland, New Paltz, Clarkson, William Smith, Oneonta, Connecticut College, and RPI. The RPI women came in fourth overall, defeating William Smith, Clarkson, and Oneonta.

Among RPI’s many strong performers at the Union College meet were Ben Fell, who had two individual first places in the 200-yard free with a time of 1:47.67 and the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.34. Fell also took part in the first place 200-medley relay team along with Mark Cassalia, Ian Stith, and Mark Schopmeyer with a time of 1:42.84. Allison and Julia Geer both had a number of first place finishes. Allison took first in the 200-freestyle (1:58.73), 100-freestyle (54.79) and the 500 freestyle. Julia took first place in the 50-freestyle (25.88) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.34). Matt Anderson had two first places, the 200 individual medley (2:03.20) and the 100-butterfly (55.25). In diving Zach Lingley took first place in the one-meter competition with a score of 223.13.

Meghan Hartman led the RPI women in both the Union College meet and the RPI invitational by taking first place in every event she competed in. Hartman also had the distinction of making an NCAA B-cut in the 200-yard individual medley at the RPI invitational. Against Union College she had three individual first places: the 1000-free (11:17.54), 200-individual medley (2:15.31) and the 100-breaststoke (1:09.72). At the invitational, she won the 200-individual medley (2:12.26), 200-butterfly (2:16.94), and the 200-breaststroke (2:30.16). Allison Geer also scored three individual wins at the invitational in the 200-freestyle (2:00.44), 100-freestyle (54.71) and the 500-freestyle (5:30.80). Julia Geer had two first place finishes in the 200-backstroke (2:14.69) and the 50-freestyle (25.51).

The RPI men’s and women’s swim team will be hosting Skidmore this Saturday at 1 pm at the Robison Pool.