Photo By Hannah Bazarian, Photo Editor
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams added Union College to their list of fallen foes on Saturday, Nov. 12.
The men defeated Union, 180-120, by winning both relays — the 200-yard medley relay and 400 freestyle relay — and 10 individual events. Freshmen James Frauen and Brian Wong each won two individual events — Frauen won the 100 (54:08) and 200 (1:58.47) backstroke, and Wong was first to the wall in the 100 (51.58) and 200 (1:56.07) butterfly.
The 50 freestyle was an exhilarating event that featured Yellowjackets finishing in the top three positions. Only 0.01 seconds separated the race’s winner — freshman Booky Porapakkham (22.24) — from second-fastest, sophomore Alex King (22.25). Freshman Brett Maus was right with the top two, finishing third with a time of 22.95.
Other top finishers were junior Christian Vu in 200 freestyle (1:47.52), junior Adam Bossert in 100 breaststroke (1:02.97), sophomore Chris Doser in 100 freestyle (48.29) and freshman Steven Li in 200 IM (2:02.53).
For diving, junior Elliott Lasher took down a five-year-old school record on the three-meter with a score of 264.60, and he secured second place on both the one- and three-meter boards.
The women’s domination over Union (196-102) came from first place finishes in 10 individual events and one relay. Freshmen Theresa Xu and Lauren Bailey were triple winners, while freshmen Emily Friedline and Meg Waring were double winners.
Xu was the fastest swimmer in the 200 freestyle (1:59.76), 200 backstroke (2:12.53) and 500 freestyle (5:19.20), while Bailey claimed wins in the 200 butterfly (2:14.62), 100 freestyle (55.06) and 100 butterfly (59.20). Waring won the 100 (1:10.24) and 200 (2:34.89) breaststroke events, and Friedline was fastest in the 1,000 freestyle (10:54.80) and 200 IM (2:16.52).
On the diving boards, junior Sara Spielman scored 224.78 to win the one-meter, and senior Rachel deLahunta had the highest score on the three-meter with 237.90.
Both wins greatly contribute to the teams’ confidence and excitement leading up to the Liberty League Championships in December, according to assistant coach Matt Bailey.
“After having such a close meet with Union the past two years, we were pumped to come out with a couple of convincing wins,” Bailey said. “It sets the tone that we hope will carry us into reclaiming the Liberty League Championship on the men’s side and defending it on the women’s side.”
Season records for the men and women are 2-2 and 3-1, respectively. The Yellowjackets will be away when they take on Carnegie Mellon University, Washington & Lee University and Allegheny College at their next swim meet on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m.
Holden is a member of the class of 2013.
