Solid Finishes for Swimming and Diving at Conference Meet

NEW PALTZ — The New Paltz men and women’s swimming and diving teams performed brilliantly this past weekend at the conference championships at Erie Community College in Buffalo, solidifying their spots as two of the elite programs in the SUNYAC.

Jeff Galaise (Torrington, CT), Jon Amoia (Williamsville, NY), and Mark Otto (Sewell, NJ), who happen to be off- campus roommates at the college, all captured individual championships at the meet. Galaise captured the 200-yard individual medley title, Amoia claimed the 100-yard breaststroke, and Otto was the 200-yard freestyle champion. The three joined leadoff man Kent Yeung (Flushing, NY) to capture the 200-yard medley relay shaving four seconds off their time in December’s ECAC Championship Meet. They also finished well in the 400-yard medley relay taking 2nd place. Also finishing impressively was sophomore Mark Costello (Staten Island, NY), finishing 2nd in the 200-yard backstroke and 4th in the 100-yard backstroke.

The women claimed no titles but were equally remarkable. Freshman Mallory Grempel (Babylon, NY) led the way for the Hawks finishing in the top three in three individual events and fourth with her teammates in three relay events. Grempel was 2nd in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke and 3rd in the 200-yard individual medley. Grempel, Danielle Lindner (Wantagh, NY), Christine Foster (East Patchogue, NY), and Molly Soule (Clinton, NY) were 4th in the 400-yard medley relay and Grempel and Soule joined with Jacquie Edelman (Jamaica, NY), and Erin Lalor (Richmond Hill, NY) for 4th in the 200 freestyle relay. Soule, Lindner, and Lalor also took place in 4th place finishes in the 400-yard freestyle relay with Jaime Parrotte (Johnson City, NY), and the 800-yard freestyle relay with Jess Armstrong (Wappingers Falls, NY). In diving, Kathryn MacCrate was extraordinary for the Hawks finishing 3rd in 1 meter diving (283.40) and 2nd in 3 meter diving (328.00).