The RPI men’s and women’s swimming and diving team had a strong showing in their home opener Sunday against last year’s state champions, the Ithaca Bombers. Despite losing both the men’s and women’s meets by scores of 133-103 and 145-90, respectively, the RPI swimmers and divers demonstrated many strengths that they feel they will be able to use to win future meets this season.
Two of the women’s swimmers had exceptional performances at the meet: Sophomore Meghan Hartman had three individual first places in the 200-meter individual medley (2:12.94), 200-meter butterfly (2:15.18), and the 200-meter breaststroke (2:29.04), and team Captain Allison Geer finished first twice, in the 50-meter freestyle (25.91) and the 100-meter freestyle (55.77), as well as finishing second in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 2:00.68. Men’s Captain Ben Fell led the team with two wins, in the 200-meter freestyle (1:47.95) and the 200-meter backstroke (2:00.54).
Coming away from the meet, the team felt confident that they had laid down a solid foundation from which to launch another successful season as a follow-up to last year’s 11-2 men’s record and 7-6 women’s record. The team has been strengthened by the addition of 13 freshmen, and they bring a broad range of experience to the team. The team is looking forward to their next meet Sunday, November 11 at Hartwick; their next home meet will be against Vassar at the Robison Pool on November 14 at 6 pm.
