UTICA, NY-  Both the Hartwick men's and women's swimming and diving teams continued their hot start to the season as both squads were victorious on Saturday afternoon against Empire 8 rival Utica. The men won by the score of 208-61 and the women by the score of 211-70.

Chris Willcox (Dresher, PA/Upper Dublin) led the men's team with three wins. He took first in the 200 fly (2:00.45), 100 fly (54.49) and the 200 IM (2:07.39).

Luke Grunewald (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free Academy), Jeremy Torres (Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap), and Lydon Schultz (Mount Pleasant, SC/Bishop England) all won two events each to lead the Hartwick men. Grunewald won the 200 free (1:51.42) and 500 free (4:56.52) events. Torres was first in both the 100 breast (1:03.22) and 200 breast (2:19.96). Schultz was victorious in the 50 free (22.68) and 100 free (49.73).

Other winners on the afternoon included Kenny Kleso (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) in the 1000 free (10:16.34) and Cory Perez (Miami, FL/John A Ferguson) in the 100 back (56.56) and 200 back (2:03.27). Andrew Beckham (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) placed first in the one-meter dive with a score of 228.65.

The 200 free relay team of Schultz, Cody Cupit (Nacogdoches, TX/Nacogdoches), Brendan Day (Westfield, MA/Westfield), and Brad Ranson (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) were first with a time of 1:29.59. The 200 medley relay squad of Cupit, Kleso, Ranson, and Schultz won in a time of 1:40.15.

For the women, Mallory Weber (Naperville, IL/Waubonsie Valley), Sarah Uminski (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth), Gwen Mathias (Sunland, CA/Southwestern Academy), and Clare Nelson (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley) each won two events to pace Hartwick. Weber came in first in the 200 fly (2:20.95) and the 100 fly (1:04.18). Uminski was victorious in the 100 free (58.02) and 50 free (27.06). Mathias was a winner in the 100 back (1:06.46) and the 500 free (5:29.63). Nelson came out on top in the 100 breast (1:14.42) and the 200 breast (2:36.13).

Helen Merkley (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) and Hanna Prendeville (Glens Falls, NY/Warrensburg) both won their first collegiate events. Merkley was the winner of the 200 back with a time of 2:17.05. Prendeville won the 200 IM in 2:21.84.
Kaitlyn Campbell (Hanover Park, IL/Glenhard North) came in first in the 1000 free in a time of 11:14.42. Imma Rutigliano (Tillson, NY/John A. Coleman) won the 200 free (2:02.72).

The 200 relay team of Merkley, Rutigliano, Campbell, and Dana Vinyard (Willowbrook, IL/Hinsdale South) won in a time of 1:42.27. The 200 medley relay squad of Merkley, Nelson, Jade Woodend (Visalia, CA), and Campbell scored a winning time of 1:59.

Lindsay Bowker (Bothell, WA/Inglemoor) won the one-meter dive with scores of 229.05 and 174.95.

Both teams return to Moyer Pool for a meet with Empire 8 for Nazareth next Saturday at 1 p.m.