December 1, 2011
While many of us returned home for Thanksgiving break, the men’s and women’s swimming teams stuck around for the weekend, treading the pool in preparation for the Ithaca quad meet. The teams competed against Ithaca, Hartwick College and SUNY Geneseo for their opening meet. Although Hamilton fell to the other teams, several swimmers placed some promising wins in races.
Megan Gibbons ’12, a senior captain, scored pool records at Ithaca in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyles, swimming 24.44 seconds, 52.91 seconds and 1:55.61 seconds, respectively. Maggie Rosenbaum ’14 finished the 100 and 200 backstroke also setting pool records: 59.71 seconds and 2:09.21 for the 200m race. Combined, the two finished first in six events. Maja Feenick ’13 recalls that the team’s hard work in practice has really begun to show in their races: “We’re finishing our races harder and starting to show the endurance we’ve built. Our performances can only improve from here, and I think that will be evident in this weekend’s meet at Wesleyan.” Lead by team captains Lizzy Buhl ’12, Gabby Goione ’12 and Jeannie Folan’12, the team is sure to perform this weekend.
Senior captain James Crafa ’12 sees this meet as a great starting block for the team’s new season: “This meet is a great opportunity to introduce the freshmen to their first big college meet, as well as to get some initial times on paper for all swimmers.” Crafa is joined by other captains Tom Cyran ’12, Jon Fung ’12 and Taylor Hogenkamp ’13, who nailed third place in the 100 free at Ithaca. Daniel Levine ’13 steered the Continentals in the 1000 free in 10:48.32. Freshman hopeful Reid Swartz ’15 finished fifth out of 16 swimmers in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:05.11.
This weekend’s meet will be an extensive and intensive three-session one against Trinity and Wesleyan. The team hopes to place highly to show other NESCAC schools that they are a team to look out for come February. “The future of our team looks bright,” says Crafa. “January is a fierce month for the us, but I look forward to see our team rise to the challenge in preparation for NESCACS at the end of the season.”
Both teams are positive and determined to pursue a successful season through the winter. Lizzy Buhl ’12 says she is excited about the talent of the freshman class, as well as their returners: “We have a great team dynamic and we think it will bring us stellar results at Wesleyan this weekend.”