POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Hartwick Women's Swimming and Diving team closed out the regular season with a third-place finish at the Vassar Sprint Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Coming off a road victory over St. Lawrence in their final dual meet, the Hawks entered their final regular season competition looking to finish strong.
Hartwick opened the afternoon with a third-place showing in the 200-yard medley relay as Cassidy Payrot (Cicero, NY), Min-Syun Chen (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), Aubrey Vaile (Wesley Chapel, Fla.), and Anna Bischoff (Oneonta, N.Y.) combined for a time of 1:56.53.
After strong early performances from Skidmore and host Vassar, Chen added valuable points with a third-place finish in the 50-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 33.83 seconds and narrowly missing second place by just .33 seconds. Danielle DeCarlo (Whitesboro, N.Y.) delivered the first individual event win for the Blue and White, dominating the 400-yard individual medley with a winning time of 4:51.91.
Although it did not count toward team scoring, Hartwick claimed bragging rights in the mixed 200-yard medley relay. Payrot and Vaile teamed up with Hassan Abdelwahed (New Hartford, N.Y.) and Bryce Rogers (Fulton, N.Y.) to post a time of 1:45.75.
Annabelle Lindsay (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) shined on the boards, sweeping both diving events with scores of 216.55 in the one-meter and 221.00 in the three-meter. Chen capped off the final individual event of the meet by winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:10.22.
The Hawks wrapped up the afternoon with a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The quartet of Vaile, Bischoff, Kate Gucciardi (Cicero, N.Y.), and Cate Russo (San Pedro, Calif.) clocked in at 1:46.77, narrowly missing third place by just half a second.
Hartwick finished third overall, topping Mount Holyoke, Delhi, and Bard, while Liberty League opponents Skidmore and Vassar claimed the top two spots.
RESULTS
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks turn their attention to the Empire 8 Championships at the Webster Aquatic Center. Day one of competition is set for February 18, with preliminary heats beginning at 10 a.m. and finals scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
