The RPI Women’s Swimming and Diving Team had an impressive home opener on Saturday against the University of Rochester. In the first event Sara Chadwick, Meghan Hartman, Maureen Desi, and Allison Geer gained the attention of the entire University of Rochester team as the veteran relay team demolished all other competitors. The meet was very intense and halfway through the meet, after one meter diving, the RPI women’s squad was leading by a score of 58 to 54.
Captains Geer and Hartman each had three first place finishes to start out their season. Geer used her turbine-like kick to propel herself to victories in both the 100- and 200-yard Freestyle events, while Hartman lapped every other competitor as she dominated the 500-yard Freestyle. With a time of 2:10:27 in the 200 Individual Medley, Hartman qualified a ‘B’ cut for the National Championship. Both Geer and Hartman were also members of the winning Medley Relay. With the dynamic duo pumping out times like these so early in the season, Coach O’Brien commented, “I am very impressed with the way the entire women’s team swam this weekend.”
RPI’s divers, Melissa Hershey, Jen Keyes, Lindsay Carpenter, and Jessica Bailey outscored the UR divers 32 to 6. Hershey won both the one meter and three meter boards with identical scores, and when asked about the team’s performance said, “The divers are doing well and with a little more practice we will be great. I lead the team by doing my job and keeping it real.”
In the end the outnumbered RPI women could not hold off the University of Rochester, and the meet ended in an unfortunate heartbreaker, with a score of 103 to 134. The women put up one hell of a fight and were pleased with their performance. Geer said, “Our team may be small, but we sure pack a mean punch.”
With the women swimming and diving so well this early in the season, it has left the coaching staff of the team very delighted, and excited to see what the modest women will be capable of come championship time. What’s the secret ingredient you may ask? Assistant Coach Jennifer Mucci added “Throughout my years on a swim team, it was not only hard work and dedication that improved times in the pool, but it was also team concept and unity. We may not have the most women in the pool, but we are by far the most mentally focused and cohesive team in the state.”
Captain Hartman was pretty pumped at the end of her races. She had this to say about the women’s team this year. “We did well for the size of our team. As long as we continue winning big events and swimming fast times, we will keep showing big name teams, as well as the men’s team, that we will not be shown up.”
On a side note, the RPI men destroyed their opponent UR men by a score of 158 to 68.
