CLINTON, NY - Hartwick's swimming and diving teams squared off against some strong opposition on Saturday against Hamilton, Ithaca, and Geneseo at the Hamilton quad-meets on Saturday in Clinton, NY. Junior Michael Phillips (Austin, TX) won three events to pace the Hartwick men (6-3), who defeated Hamilton (148-86) and were beaten by Geneseo (131-112) and Ithaca (133-110). Stephanie Ha (Everett, WA) led the 'Wick women (6-3) with two second-place races in three defeats to the host Continentals (128-114), the Bombers (173-70), and the Blue Wave (170.5-72.5).
Phillips earned 'Wick's only first-place finishes on the day. He placed first in the 200 freestyle in 1:46.56 to start the afternoon. He then took first in the 200 individual medley in a time of 1:59.86, and wrapped up the day with the top spot in the 200 breaststroke in 2:10.96.
Sophomore Kenny Kleso (Milford, PA) took second in a pair of events, earning season-best times in both races. Kleso finished the 100 freestyle in 10:10.58 and the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:55.09.
Luke Grunewald (New Windsor, NY) and Josh McNorton (Sanford, NC) also earned top-5 finishes in the 100 and 500 free events. Grunewald was 3rd in the 100 free and 5th in the 500 free. McNorton earned season-best times with 4th-place races in both events.
Eric Goble (Bellefontaine, OH) and Chris Willcox (Dresher, PA) took 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the 200 fly for the Hawks. Brad Ranson (Pennington, NJ), Kaird Durocher (Bethlehem, PA), Lydon Schultz (Mt. Pleasant, NC), and John Wojtech (Bremerton, WA) combined for 2nd in the 400 free relay.
Ha was second in both the 200 IM and the 200 fly events on the women's side. She swam the 200 IM in 2:14.76 and the 200 fly in 2:14.89.
Sophomore Robyn Smith (Jupiter, FL) registered fourth-place efforts in two events. She tied for fourth in the 50 free in 25.82 seconds and finished the 200 backstroke in 2:18.73. Whitney Fletcher (Superior, CO) and Clare Nelson (South Hadley, MA) placed 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the 200 breaststroke for 'Wick.
Erin Holladay (Everett, WA) was 4th in the 200 free (2:03.00) and 5th in the 500 free (5:33.69). Sam McFarland (Derry, PA) was 4th in the 200 free. Smith, Fletcher, Ha, and McFarland also teamed up for a 3rd-place effort in the 400 medley relay.
Hartwick's swimming and diving teams will next compete in early December in the RIT Don Richards Invitational. Competition begins on Friday, December 3rd and continues through Sunday, December 5th.
