WEBSTER, NY – The Swimming and Diving programs completed the Allegheny Empire Championship meet this evening, with Hartwick's women placing 3^rd overall (2^nd in E8 only) while the men finished 5h overall (3^rd in E8 only).  Michael Schultz was named the Empire 8's male swimmer of the meet.
 
The women were consistent throughout the meet, finishing the first two days in 4^th and then moving up to finish the last two days in 3^rd.  On the meet's final day, Joelle Ocheltree took home gold in the 1650 free with a time of 18:18.64, nearly 5 full seconds ahead of the second place finisher.  Bree Dy and Paige Eaton took home second place finishes in the 200 backstroke and 200 breaststroke with times of 2:12.54 and 2:28.41, respectively.  The 400 free relay team consisting of Dy, Ellie Baird, Eaton and Abby Miller placed 2^nd with a time of 3:42.59.  Miller also finished 3^rd in the 1650 free with a time of 18:31.44.
 
The women scored a total of 662.5 points to finish third overall behind Nazareth and Penn State Behrend.  Accounting only for Empire 8 schools, Hartwick finished 2^nd of the 4 E8 institutions.  There were 10 total schools at the combined Championships. 
 
On the men's side, the team placed 5^th overall of the 10 schools with 762 total points.  Removing the AMCC schools, Hartwick placed 3^rd in the E8 only finishes.  Alfred State won the meet overall by a narrow 25.5 points over the E8's Nazareth College.
 
On this final day of events, Michael Schultz grabbed gold in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:51.76, almost 2 seconds ahead of his competition.  He later teamed up with Dawson Tupponce, Diallo Marshall and Reid Sinkinson to grab silver in the 400 free relay with a tie of 3:09.36.  Marshall had another podium finish in the 100 free, placing 3^rd with a time of 46.49.
 
Michael Schultz was named the E8 Men's Swimmer of the Meet.  Schultz had a strong meet, finishing with the following: 4^th in the 200 medley relay, 4^th in the 800 free relay, 2^nd in the 200 IM, 3^rd in the 100 butterfly, 3^rd in the 400 medley relay, and today's 1^st in the 200 butterfly and 2^nd in the 400 free relay.