NEW PALTZ, NY — The 2006-07 season was highlighted with a 16th place team finish at Nationals. Senior Michelle Coombs became the first female SUNY New Paltz national champion as she claimed the 100 freestyle with a time of 50.84. Coombs broke her own varsity and conference record. She was seeded second in the event after posting a time of 51.05 in the prelims behind Lauren Preyss of Case Western, who touched in 50.96. In the finals, Coombs out touched Tina Ertel of Kenyon (51.04). Louis Petto is the only other national champion for SUNY New Paltz, with his last titles coming in 1994 when he won the 500 and 200 freestyle.
Coombs touched second in the 100 backstroke (56.59) and third in the 50 free (23.46), to garner three first-team All-America honors. She teamed up with Laura Lipp, Erica Ellis and Ashley Williamson to finish 14th in the 200 MR, 16th in the 200 FR, and 16th in the 400 MR to earn three honorable mention All-America awards.
The women’s team swam to a fourth place finish at the SUNYAC meet. Coombs was named the Outstanding Female Swimmer of the meet at the SUNYAC Championships. Coombs won the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, setting new SUNYAC meet, conference and varsity records in all of her individual events and was named to the All-Conference first team for her performance. Second team All-SUNYAC performers included senior Liz Delia, sophomore Joelle Hopf, and senior Katie Rapp. Delia finished second in the 200 back and Rapp touched third while Hopf finished third in the 100 breast stroke. The 200 medley relay team of Coombs, Laura Lipp, Liz Ruggerio, and Ashley Williamson finished first in a time of 1:49.01. The 200 yard freestyle relay of Williamson, Regina Davide, Beth Colebeck and Coombs finished second in a time of 1:38.55, setting a new varsity record. Coombs teamed up with Ashley Williamson, Liz Delia and Joelle Hopf for a second place finish in the 400 free relay the 400 medley relay team of Rapp, Hopf, Ruggerio, and Coombs finished third in a varsity record time of 4:03.75. Sophomore Erica Ellis finished fourth in the 100 fly, setting a new varsity record (1:00.48). And in a time-trialed heat for the 200 medley relay of Coombs, Lipp, Ellis and Williamson a new varsity record was set (1:47.75). New Paltz posted a 6-2 dual meet record.
