After two weeks without a meet, both UR men’s and women’s swim teams showed strong individual and relay performances against the Ithaca College Bombers during their last home meet of the season. The men placed first in six individual events and one relay. Those wins helped the ‘Jackets beat the Bombers 128-115 and increase their current winning streak to three. The women’s team placed first in five individual events, but this was not enough to overcome the Bombers, who won 133.5 to 109.5.
Freshman Cole Brown was a double winner at the meet, finishing first in both the 500-yard and 1,000-yard freestyle with times of 5:01.00 and 10:15.13, respectively. The ‘Jackets swept the rest of the 500 freestyle, with junior Bruce Maki placing second, notching a time of 5:04.89, and sophomore Patrick Messmer placing third with a time of 5:05.95. Maki also placed third in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 10:27.71.
Senior Jonathan Dennison contributed to the ‘Jackets victory as well with a win in the 200 Individual Medley with a time of 2:05.25. Freshman Bobby McCue won the 200 breaststroke in 2:15.02, followed by Brown with a time of 2:18.66. Freshman Kevin Balch won the 50 freestyle in 22.91 and was followed closely by sophomore Joseph Kaule, who placed only a fraction of a second behind Kaule, with a time of 22.92. McCue also placed second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:04.99 and was followed by teammate junior Ryan White, who placed third with a time of 1:50.80. Balch placed in the 100 freestyle, as well, coming in third with a time of 50.99.
The ‘Jackets also swept the 200 backstroke, with freshman Kevin Howard placing first in a time of 2:01.66. Kaule finished second with a time of 2:04.09, and sophomore Garret Lam placed third, scoring a time of 2:05.20. Howard also completed the 200 butterfly in 2:04.99, earning him second place. In the 4,000-yard relay, the Yellowjackets, with the team of Balch, Howard, Lam and sophomore Chris Jenson, posted a time of 3:45.22 to place first in the event. The 400 freestyle relay team of Messmer, Kaule, sophomore Daniel Friel and White came in second with a time of 3:22.45.
Junior diver David Mitsche finished third in both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards with scores of 183.97 and 171.22, respectively.
The women’s team had three individuals winning five events all together. Freshman Liz Subjeck came in first in the 200 free with a time of 2:00.90, and sophomore Nora Hoefer came in third with a time of 2:01.95. Subjeck also placed first in the 500 free with a time of 5:27.25 and was followed by senior Danielle Scherry, who had a time of 5:30.37. Scherry also had a great showing in the 1,000 freestyle, winning in 10:59.33. She also placed second in the 200 butterfly, notching a time of 2:23.42.
Women’s diving also had a strong showing from sophomore Jaime Sorenson, who placed first on the 1-meter board with a score of 202.80. Sorenson won the 3-meter board as well with a score of 199.87.
Junior Cherly Blechman placed third in both events, scoring 150.60 points for the 1-meter board and 180.32 points for the 3-meter board. Other strong individual finishes included a second place finish in the 200 backstroke, with a time of 2:19.05, from freshman Cailee Caldwell. Caldwell also placed third in the 200 IM with a time of 2:19.78. Freshman Kathryn Lukens placed second in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 11:10.33 and third in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:20.18. Freshman Dayna Jacob came in second in the 50 free with a time of 26.26. Senior Kelly Fischer placed second in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:34.20, followed by senior Denise Moseman who had a time of 2:34.34.
The 400 free relay team of Hoefer, Jacob, Subjeck and Caldwell came in second with a time of 3:45.64. The 400 medley team, consisting of Lukens, Fischer, freshman Shannon Moss and freshman Rachel Boldt, came in third with a time of 4:24.02.
The ‘Jackets will finish up their regular season this weekend against the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers at the Tigers’ Judson Pool. The women have won every meet against the Tigers since the 2003-04 season and beat the Tigers last year, 143-97.
After RIT, the ‘Jackets will host the University Athletic Association Championships on Feb. 20-23.
Belonga is a member of the class of 2010.
