Coombs and Lowenstein Claim SUNYAC Titles on Day One

NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s and women’s swim teams traveled to Buffalo for the 2008 SUNYAC Championships and competed in the first night of finals. After the first day, the women stand in second with 183 points, behind first place Geneseo’s 245 points and ahead of Cortland’s 167 points. The men are in third place with 164 points, behind Geneseo (258.5) and Cortland (168.5) and ahead of fourth place Oswego (161).
Michelle Coombs picked up right where she left off last year at the Championship meet and won the 50 free in NCAA Bcut time of 23.72. Christine Rieth finished sixth (25.05) and senior Regina Davide took seventh (25.30). Allison Wells was 10th and Brittany Berrus was 13th. Coombs teamed with Joelle Hopf, Erica Ellis, and Rieth to set a new varsity record in the 400 medley relay in a Bcut time of 3:58.89. Coombs’ 100 back split of 57.16 gives her an Acut time. The 200 free relay team of Coombs, Davide, Wells and Rieth improved upon their varsity record and Bcut time which they set in the prelilms, to 1:36.98 for second place, finishing behind Geneseo who touched in 1:36.72. First years Marissa Morris and Jessica Lester took second and third, respectively, in the 500 free in times of 5:17.08 and 5:17.90. Junior Erica Ellis finished seventh in the 200 IM in 2:16.74. First year Tiffany Sorell was 12th and junior Joelle Hopf was 14th.
Sophomore Zack Lowenstein claimed his first individual SUNYAC title in the 200 IM with a time of 1:58.62. Senior Johnny Fleckenstein was right behind Lowenstein in 1:58.76 for second place, while Robb Webb and Stephen Cozzolongo finished ninth and tenth, respectively. The men’s 200 freestyle relay of David Gardner, Patrick Rathbun, Billy Papetti and Lowenstein took third in 1:27.19. Cozzolongo, Rathbun, Webb and Lowenstein teamed up in the 400 medley relay and took third in 3:38.91. Sophomore Brian Bennett finished eighth in the 500 free in 5:00.05, while Stefan Crain finished 13th and Jimmy Ireland was 16th. Gardner and Rathbun took fifth and sixth in the 50 free in times of 21.77 and 22.04. Papetti finished 13th.
The meet will continue on Friday.

For full results of completed events, click here.