Blue Wave Sweeps Hawks as Coombs Sets Three Pool Records

GENESEO, NY — The men and women’s swim teams traveled to Geneseo this afternoon for a conference meet and were swept by the Blue Wave. The women lost 148.50 – 113.50, while the men lost was 153 – 103.
Michelle Coombs paced New Paltz by winning three individual events on the day, setting pool records in all of them and was a part of a winning relay. She won the 50 free (24.64), 100 free (53.41), and the 200 free (1:55.86). Coombs teamed with Marissa Morris, Christine Rieth and Allison Wells to win the 400 free relay (3:39.11). Melinda Pullen was the only other winner for the women as she claimed the 1650 free in 18:30.58 and Jess Lester was third in 18:51.20. Pullen also took third in the 500 free in 5:30.37, behind Marissa Morris who touched second in 5:29.56. Becky Baker and Joelle Hopf finished second and third in the 100 breast in times of 1:09.76 and 1:10.11, respectively.
New Paltz had several third place finishes including Tiffany Sorrell in the 100 back (1:03.76), Liz Ruggiero in the 200 fly (2:20.97), Erica Ellis went 1:02.69 in the 100 fly, and Samantha Graham finished third in the 200 back (2:18.89).
On the men’s side, sophomore Stephen Cozzolongo posted the lone win in the 100 back (55.88) and finished second in the 200 back (2:04.38). David Gardner finished second in the 1650 in a time of 17:30.80 and took third in the 100 free (50.82). The Hawks had four other third place individual finishes; Zack Lowenstein in the 100 back (57.49), Patrick Rathbun in the 100-breast (1:06.03), Johnny Fleckenstein in the 200 breast (2:25.85), and Billy Papetti in the 50 free (22.72).
The men return to action this Saturday at the Kumpf Invitational at RPI at 12 pm. Both teams are back in the pool on Wednesday January 16th when the Hawks host Stevens Tech at 4:30pm in their final home meet of the season.