By Mel Barracato, Staff Writer
Both the men’s and women’s swim teams beat Scranton on Saturday in Scranton. The women finished with a 148114 victory and the men’s team cruised to a victory with a score of 161-101.
On the women’s side, who improved to 6-2, Junior Katie Willis and junior Maggie Palaski led the team with two individual first place finishes each. Willis also had two relay wins and Palaski had one. Willis took first in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events and helped the team of Palaski, sophomore Cate Welch, and senior Joann Butkus in the medley relay and then swam with Butkus, senior Jess Josefiak, and freshman Tori Weems in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Palaski took both wins in 100 and 200-yard butterfly races, as Weems took second in the 200yard individual medley. Butkus finished second in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke.
Sophomore Megan Shaffer placed first in the 500-yard freestyle race and second in the 200-yard free while Abby Condon cruised to first in the 200-yard backstroke and second in the 100-yard backstroke. Sophomore Caitlin Kelly finished first in the 1000 and second in the 500-yard freestyle races.
For the men’s team (4-4), sophomore David Grove cruised to two first place finishes in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events. Grove also helped the team of freshman Brett Walker, freshman David Brady, and junior James Orzolek finish first in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Walker finished first in the 200-yard individual medley and second in the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard medley relay when he teamed with Grove, sophomore Shane Sullivan, and junior Ryan Rizzuto.
Orzolek touched the wall first in the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle events. Rizzuto took second in the 200-yard butterfly and Sullivan finished first in the 200-yard breaststroke. Junior Ryan Nathan finished first in the 1000-yard freestyle.
The River Hawks will compete at the Landmark Conference Championship on Feb. 16-18. The women’s team will look to take home their eighth-consecutive title.