ALFRED, NY – Saturday's men's swimming and diving meet couldn't have been any tighter between visiting Hartwick and host Alfred. The meet came down to the final race of the day, the 200 free relay, and the Saxons would edge the Hawks by .01 seconds in a thriller.
           
'Wick led 139-132 heading into the final race. Miles Blaney (New York, NY/NYC Lab School), Matt Plunkett (Cooper City, FL/Cooper City), Joe Mulvehill (Penfield, NY/Penfield), and Brian Edmister III (Belmont, NY/Genesee Valley) combined for a time of 1:27.69 in the race. But the Saxon team was just better at 1:27.68 to claim the important 11 points. The Hawks earned four points with their second-place finish but the Saxons "B" team placed third for two points which pushed AU ahead.
           
The loss snaps the Hawks' winning streak at three in dual meets since the beginning of 2015.
           
Plunkett and sophomore Brendan Quinn (Raleigh, NC/Heritage) each won two races on the day to pace Hartwick. Plunkett finished first in the 100 back in 54.04 and the 200 back in 1:54.55. Quinn took the top spot in the 1000 free (10:20.99) and the 500 free (5:00.88).
           
Senior Kris Sanders (Tillsonburg, ONT/St. Mary's), and juniors Ben Detar (Charleston, SC/Hanahan), and Brendan Day (Westfield, MA/Westfield) also won races for the Hawks. Sanders placed first in the 200 breast (2:20.67), Detar won the 200 fly (1:57.34), and Day was the victor in the 100 breast (1:03.21).
           
The Hawks are off until next Saturday, January 24 when they visit St. Lawrence University to face the Saints in Canton, NY.