By Mel Barracato, Staff Writer
Susquehanna men’s and women’s swim teams swept their tri-matches against both Marywood and Drew last weekend to start out their seasons 2 – 0 each.
The men’s team beat Marywood with a score of 210 – 57 and just narrowly outswam Drew at 144 – 141 to take home both victories. The women’s team defeated Marywood at 194 – 103 and beat out Drew with a score of 176 – 120 to finish the weekend perfect.
A key race in the men’s meet was the final 400-yard freestyle relay, where the River Hawks finished in first and second place after Coach Jerry Foley switched up the teams a little.
The second place team of freshmen David Brady and Brandon Heese as well as senior Henry Chang and junior James Orzolek edged out Drew at the wall by .02 seconds.
The winning team of that race consisted of freshmen Owen Kelly, Anthony Principe, and Brett Walker and junior Ryan Rizzuto who finished with a total time of 3:22.39 in the race.
Orzolek finished the day with two first place finishes in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events and earned second in the 200-medley relay with the team of Walker and sophomores David Grove and Shane Sullivan. Grove also took home first in 100-yard backstroke and Walker took second in the 200-yard freestyle.
Meanwhile, the women’s side featured four swimmers who won two events each in order to lead the River Hawks to both victories in the tri-meet against Marywood and Drew.
Senior Joann Butkus, juniors Katie Willis and Maggie Palaski, and freshman Abby Condon teamed up to take the win in the first race of the day, 200-yard medley relay with a winning time of 1:53.07. Butkus also took first in the 100-yard breaststroke, second as part of the 400-yard free relay team, and third in the 200 individual medley.
Condon took first in the 200-yard backstroke and third in 100 back. Willis took first and second in the 50- yard and 100-yard freestyle, respectively. Palaski cruised to first in the 100-yard butterfly and second in the 200-yard butterfly as well.
Freshman Brooke Boes won the 200-yard breaststroke while sophomore Erin Wetmore took home first in the 1000 free for Susquehanna.
The River Hawks will head to Gettysburg this weekend for another tri-meet with Gettsburg with Messiah.