Masterson Wins SUNYAC Championship in 50-yard Freestyle

BUFFALO, NY — With Completion of the first day of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship Meet, the women’s team is currently in fourth place with 140 team points, while the men’s team is in fifth place with 88 team points. This evening’s events included the first round of finals at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center on the campus of Erie Community College.

Senior Joanna Masterson (Canandaigua, NY) once again led the way for SUNY New Paltz setting a conference, meet, and varsity record, with a Division III National Qualifying Time of 24.01 in the 50-yard freestyle in the preliminary round. In the final round, Masterson swam to a SUNYAC Championship in the 50-yard free style with a time of 24.16. Sophomore Regina Davide (Ossining, NY) (26.20), junior Ashley Williamson (Holland Patent, NY) (25.44) and freshman Beth Colebeck (Rochester, NY) (25.73) also completed the 50-yard freestyle finals.

The Hawks swam well in the 200-yard individual medley earning a total of 31 team points in the event. Juniors, Katie Rapp (Liverpool, NY) and Liz Delia (Oswego, NY) joined sophomore Liz Ruggiero (Congers, NY) to place fifth, seventh, and twelfth with times of 2:16.77, 2:16.87 and 2:18.44, respectively.

Collecting 32 points and an impressive third place finish, Colebeck, Masterson, Davide and Williamson combined for a 1:40.20 in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Later, Rapp, Ruggiero, Masterson, and sophomore Laura Lipp (St. James, NY) swam a 4:03.97 in the 400-yard medley relay capturing a third place finish and a new varsity record.

Freshman Joelle Hopf (Vestal, NY) finished tenth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:24.73 earning seven points for the Hawks.

For the men’s team, freshman Chad Santa Maria (Bordentown, NJ) swam to an eleventh place finish collecting six points with a time of 4:59.13.

The men’s 200-yard individual medley proved successful for SUNY New Paltz with three swimmers finishing for points. Sophomore John Fleckenstein (Port Jefferson, NY) led the Hawks with a time of 2:00.54, as freshman Chris Smith (Suffern, NY) (2:02.81) and sophomore Nick Johnson (Highland Mills, NY) (2:05.08) followed close behind.

Sophomore Brendan Lown (Bohemia, NY), Santa Maria, senior Jeff Melton (Acworth, GA) and sophomore Mike Demerest (Long Beach, NY) touched third with a time of 1:30.51 in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Fleckenstein, Melton, Santa Maria, and sophomore Nick Johnson (Highland Mills, NY) teamed in the 400-yard medley relay to finish in 3:41.46, placing fifth.

The SUNY New Paltz swimming teams will return to competition in the State University of New York Athletic Conference Championship for the duration of the weekend (Feb 10-12).

Complete results for this weekends meet can be viewed at the following website:

http://www.starswimming.org/results/sunyac/index.htm