NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s and women’s swim teams hosted Stevens Institute of Technology today and split with the Ducks. The women won 113-87 while the men fell 106-99.
Michelle Coombs was a double winner claiming the 50 free (24.42) and the 100 back (59.45). The Hawks swept the 1000 free as sophomore Melinda Pullen swam a personal best 11:03.90 to finish first. Jessica Lester and Christina Corrigan touched second (11:22.53) and third (11:39.38), respectively. New Paltz went 1-2-3 in the 200 free led by Marissa Morris (2:00.95), Christine Rieth (2:02.61) and Tiffany Sorrell (2:03.79). Regina Davide and Allison Wells finished behind Coombs in the 50 free, touching second and third. Rieth won the 100 free (54.96) and Brittany Berrus finished second (57.23), while Becky Baker claimed the 100 breast (1:09.20). Baker and Berrus teamed with Samantha Graham and Erica Ellis to win the 200 medley relay in 1:54.45 and Rieth, Wells, Morris and Berrus won the 200 free relay in 1:42.50.
On the men’s side Patrick Rathbun won the 50 free (22.90) edging out Billy Papetti in second (23:04). Sophomore Stephen Cozzolongo won the 100 back (54.88) and Zack Lowenstein finished second (57.27). First year David Gardner settled for second place in the 500 free (5:01.28) after he was edged out by .02 seconds. Lowenstein and Gardner took second (1:49.87) and third (1:49.96), respectively, in the 200 free. The 200 medley relay of Cozzolongo, Rathbun, Robb Webb, and Gardner took first in 1:41.35. Stefan Crain and Brian Bennett finished second and third in the 1000 free and Webb posted two third place finishes in the 100 fly and 100 breast.
The women’s team will be back in action on Saturday when they compete in the RPI Invite at 12:00 pm. Both teams will return to the pool on January 26th when they travel to Cortland for their final meet of the season before SUNYAC Championships.
