By Kirsten Hatton Staff writer
The Susquehanna men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams cruised to 162-109 and 170-107.5 victories over Scranton on senior day on Jan. 28.
The women started the day with a win in the 200 medley that included seniors Erin McElwee and Ashlee Weingarten, junior Joann Butkus and sophomore Maggie Palaski who posted a time of 1:52.97.
Weingarten, Butkus and sophomore Katie Willis won three events each on the day.
Weingarten posted a time of 25.62 to win the 50 freestyle and went on to win the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.53. Willis placed first in the 200 free with a time of 1:58.32. Willis also won the 100 free with a time of 54.81. Butkus posted a time of 1:09.18 to win the 100 backstroke and 2:17.38 to win the 200 individual medley.
“On the women’s side, we have become extremely deep over the course of the season,” Head Coach Jerry Foley said.
Freshman Erin Wetmore placed first in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:20.35, and freshman Megan Shaffer placed first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2.13.25.
Freshman Caitlin Kelly placed first in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 11:05.01, while junior Lindsey VanKirk placed third with a time of 11:37.70.
Other notable first place finishers included sophomore Megan Duck who posted a time of 2:31.82 in the 200 breaststroke and freshman Hannah Finton in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:31.71.
“On the men’s side, individuals are really starting to step up and own events.” Foley said.
Foley was right. The men’s team was able to win all 14 races on the day.
Senior Eric Lawrence, sophomore James Orzolek and freshmen David Grove and Shane Sullivan opened the meet with a first place finish in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:41.91. Grove, Sullivan and Orzolek each won four races to help the River Hawks past Scranton.
Grove won the 100 backstroke in 55.93 and the 200 backstroke in 2:04.57. Sullivan won the 100 and 200 breaststroke with times of 1:01.50 and 2:14.92. Orzolek won back-to-back races in the 50 and 100 freestyle with times of 22.24 and 49.31.
Senior David Miller won the 200 free in 1.47.14 and Lawrence won the 100 and 200 butterfly with times of 54.34 and 2.04.41, respectively.
Senior Bill Crumrine won the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:29.84 while sophomore Ryan Nathan won the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:06.27. The men closed out the meet by winning the 400 freestyle with the team of Crumrine, Grove, Sullivan and Miller.
“We’ve been training really hard this entire month starting with our training trip down in Florida. We have really started to come together as a team and now are getting down to the end of our season,” sophomore Ryan Prater said.
Foley said, “I have been telling the team, we have set ourselves up for some remarkable performances at the end of the year.”
The River Hawks are back in action Feb. 4 as they travel to Catholic to finish the regular season and prepare for the 2017 Landmark Conference Championships.
