On Sunday, Feb. 19, the Elizabethtown College men’s and women’s swim teams took to the Landmark Conference Swimming and Diving Championship. The men’s team finished fourth out of ten teams with 342 points and the women’s team finished fifth out of ten with 373 points. This season, the men went 7-6 overall and 4-2 in conference. The women went 11-3 overall and 4-2 in conference as well. The men’s team started the season out strong, going on a four-meet winning streak, before entering a slump. However, they finished the season with a couple of wins and then a solid performance at the Landmark Championship. The women’s team started with a five-meet winning streak and ended on a four-meet winning streak, as well as their strong performance at the Championship.
To start the meet, second-year Leif Hoffman placed seventh in the 1650 free with a time of 16:52.07, third-year Joshua McQueen placed 14th with a time of 17:39.56, and third-year Robert Midura finished 15th. Fourth-year Dylan Fitzgerald and third-year Franky Swain placed 10th and 11th respectively in the 200 back, followed by third-year Liam Quick in sixteenth at 2:17.21. In the 100 free, third-year AJ West placed 12th at 48.92, followed by third-year Andrew Hoch in 16th at 49.73.
Moving to the 200 breaststroke, fourth-year Alex Waskiewicz placed eight, first-year Hunter Kuffa placed 12th, and second-year Garren McKenzie placed 14th. Hoffman finished fourth in the 200 fly, swimming a 1:58.32. McQueen followed in ninth at 2:05.37. Third-year Jack Venza placed 12th at 2:13.18 and third-year Griffen MacLaren finished in 14th at 2:17.32. Our 400 free relay team, composed of Fitzgerald, second-year Austin Smith, Hoch and Waskiewicz finished fifth.
Now looking at the women’s side of the meet, fourth-year Sarah Marston shined in the finals with a first-place finish in the 100 free at 53.15. Second-year Hailey Poulos opened the meet, placing eighth in the 1650 free at 18:47.60, followed by first-year Katie Midura in 12th at 19:36.78. Moving to the 200 back, second-year Kaylee Blair finished fourth at 2:11.60 and fourth-year Maddey Brelsford finished 13th at 2:15.31.
In the 100 free, third-year Olivia Hillman placed 10th at 55.97, followed by first-year Megan Benson at 57.12. Third-year Gracie Harding and second-year Emma Sabalaske finished back-to-back in the 200 breaststroke, placing 11th and 12th respectively, followed by fourth-year Maggie Meyers in 16th. The women’s 400 free relay of Harding, Hillman, Blair and Marston grabbed fourth at 3:38.82.
As a whole, it was a successful season for the Jays, with both the men’s and women’s sides finishing with winning records and putting up good results at the Landmark Championship. We wish them the best of luck in the off-season as they prepare to get back at it again next season.
