2008 Woodie Awards
Union Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving teams place second at union Relays
Nathan Seder
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Sports
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The Union men and women's swimming and diving teams opened their seasons with the Union Relays at Schenectady on Saturday. The relays pitted Union against the United States Coast Guard Academy, Vassar College, SUNY New Paltz and Montclair State University. Both the men and women's teams performed exceptionally well for the beginning of the season and each team placed second in a pair of hard-fought meets. On the men's side, the Coast Guard Academy won by just two points over Union, while SUNY New Paltz defeated the Dutchwomen by fourteen points.
Despite the loss of a strong senior class, the Dutchwomen combined veteran experience with a strong freshman class to stay competitive the entire meet. The 400-medley relay of Annora Brennan, Kirstin Burdett, Vanessa Athenas and Christa White had a solid second-place finish. In the individual stroke relays, Union performed well across the board. Amy Nestlerode, Mary Kate Baumann and Brennan took second in the backstroke relay, while Burdett, Sarah Yergeau and converted sprinter Maria Prendergast placed second in the breaststroke relay. Ashley Braniecki and freshman Andrea Marois helped lead the butterfly relay to another second-place finish. White, Taylor Connolly, Christina Bladek and Sara Callahan turned in a solid third-place performance in the 500-freestyle relay as well.
Another highlight for the Dutchwomen was the performance of their divers. Molly Freeman, Meredith Nearpass and Erica Finkelstein, one of the strongest diving corps in the conference, swept the diving events.
After two seasons of losing strong graduating classes and the departure of several key swimmers, a resurgent men's team entered the meet buoyed by one of the strongest recruiting classes in recent memory. The 400-medley relay of Brian Scarlett, Nathan Seder, Lucas Tiziani and Todd Herman came in a close second to Coast Guard. In the individual stroke relays, Union paced the field across the board. The backstroke relay of Kevin Kewin, Eric Sullivan and Scarlett placed first, along with the butterfly relay of Steven Schapp, Tiziani and Cornell-transfer Rob Manor. The 200-medley relay of Sullivan, Shane Hubbell, Kewin and Kevin Jung placed another close second, as did the 500-freestyle relay of Chris Heske, Jack Honor, Sullivan and Schapp.
Divers Steve Cohen and Frank Spendley performed well and placed first on the three meter board.
Union will seek to build on the effort from the Relays as they look ahead to their first dual meet against the University of Rochester on November 10th at Schenectady.
Despite the loss of a strong senior class, the Dutchwomen combined veteran experience with a strong freshman class to stay competitive the entire meet. The 400-medley relay of Annora Brennan, Kirstin Burdett, Vanessa Athenas and Christa White had a solid second-place finish. In the individual stroke relays, Union performed well across the board. Amy Nestlerode, Mary Kate Baumann and Brennan took second in the backstroke relay, while Burdett, Sarah Yergeau and converted sprinter Maria Prendergast placed second in the breaststroke relay. Ashley Braniecki and freshman Andrea Marois helped lead the butterfly relay to another second-place finish. White, Taylor Connolly, Christina Bladek and Sara Callahan turned in a solid third-place performance in the 500-freestyle relay as well.
Another highlight for the Dutchwomen was the performance of their divers. Molly Freeman, Meredith Nearpass and Erica Finkelstein, one of the strongest diving corps in the conference, swept the diving events.
After two seasons of losing strong graduating classes and the departure of several key swimmers, a resurgent men's team entered the meet buoyed by one of the strongest recruiting classes in recent memory. The 400-medley relay of Brian Scarlett, Nathan Seder, Lucas Tiziani and Todd Herman came in a close second to Coast Guard. In the individual stroke relays, Union paced the field across the board. The backstroke relay of Kevin Kewin, Eric Sullivan and Scarlett placed first, along with the butterfly relay of Steven Schapp, Tiziani and Cornell-transfer Rob Manor. The 200-medley relay of Sullivan, Shane Hubbell, Kewin and Kevin Jung placed another close second, as did the 500-freestyle relay of Chris Heske, Jack Honor, Sullivan and Schapp.
Divers Steve Cohen and Frank Spendley performed well and placed first on the three meter board.
Union will seek to build on the effort from the Relays as they look ahead to their first dual meet against the University of Rochester on November 10th at Schenectady.
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