BUFFALO, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s and women’s swim team is participating in the SUNYAC championships at the Flickinger Aquatic Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Both teams are currently in 4th place with the women scoring 370.5 points and the men scoring 233.5 points.
On the women’s side, four new varsity records were set, along with two conference records, a meet record and an ACut and BCut were made. The 200 medley relay team of Michelle Coombs, Laura Lipp, Liz Ruggerio, and Ashley Williamson finished first in a time of 1:49.01. Coombs swam to a new meet, conference, and varsity record in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:52.86, making a national ACut. Coombs time was five seconds faster than the runner-up. Joelle Hopf and Erica Ellis finished third (1:08.80) and fifth (1:09.43), respectively, in the 100 breast stroke. Hopf’s time broke the old school record of 1:08.88. Ellis swam to a fourth place finish in the 100 fly (1:00.48) setting a new varsity record and Liz Ruggerio touched seventh (1:01.84). Senior Liz Delia touched in a time of 4:43.95 for a fourth place finish in the 400 IM. Katie Rapp and Samantha Graham finished fourth (1:02.14) and sixth (1:02.76), respectively, in the 100 back stroke. The 800 free relay team of Delia, Hopf, Regina Davide and Graham finished fourth (8:10.75). At the end of the day, Coombs, Lipp, Ellis and Williamson swam a timed trail for the 200 medley relay and went a 1:47.75, setting a varsity record. Coombs split in the back was 26.00, Lipp went a 31.21 in the breast, Ellis clocked a 26.44 in the fly, and Williamson finished the free in 24.10. The 1:47.75 makes a National BCut.
On the men’s side Johnny Fleckenstein finished third in the 400 IM (4:18.96). Stephen Cozzolongo and Zack Lowenstein took third and sixth, respectively, in the 100 back with Cozzolongo touching in 54.08 and Lowenstein finishing in 54.76. The 800 free relay of Brian Bennett, Stefan Crain, Fleckenstein and Lowenstein took fourth (7:17.20) and Cozzolongo, Danny Lo, Mark Chipman and Brendan Lown teamed up in the 200 medley relay and finished fifth (1:39.97).
The meet’s final events will occur Saturday evening beginning at 6 p.m.
