WEBSTER, N.Y. – The Hartwick swimming and diving teams remained in the top three after Day Two of the 2025–26 Empire 8 Swimming & Diving Championships, building on a strong opening day with multiple podium finishes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Following an impressive start to the championship meet, the Hawks continued to add to their medal count and point totals on Day Two.
Cameron Drake (El Cajon, Cal.) competed in the 200-yard freestyle after earning silver in the 500-yard freestyle on Day One. He narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in 1:43.73 to secure valuable team points. Bryce Rogers (Fulton, N.Y.) claimed Hartwick's first medal of the day, taking bronze in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 51.27. Junior Hassan Abdelwahed (New Hartford, N.Y.) followed closely behind in 51.43, further boosting the Hawks' point total.
On the women's side, Aubrey Vaile (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) earned bronze in the 100-yard butterfly, touching the wall in 59.42 seconds. Mahdi Behniaye (Hannibal, Mo.) added a fifth-place finish in the 400-yard individual medley (4:16.02), just three seconds shy of the podium. Danielle DeCarlo (Whitesboro, N.Y.) delivered a strong swim in the women's 400-yard IM, placing fourth in 4:44.30 to secure critical points.
Annabelle Lindsay (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) contributed on the boards with a seventh-place finish in the one-meter diving event (366.95).
The men capped the evening with their second relay medal of the championships, earning bronze in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Abdelwahed, Behniaye, Rogers, and Badr Aly (East Syracuse, NY) combined for a time of 1:26.85, finishing just one second behind silver medalist SUNY Brockport.
The women closed out Day Two with a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Vaile, DeCarlo, Russo, and Kate Gucciardi (Cicero, N.Y.) posted a time of 1:41.97, narrowly missing the podium as Nazareth University claimed bronze by just 0.60 seconds.
RESULTS
MEN'S SCORES
-
Geneseo - 550
-
Hartwick - 283
-
Brockport - 272
-
Alfred - 265
-
Nazareth - 92
WOMEN'S SCORES
-
Geneseo - 601
-
Brockport - 309
-
Hartwick - 257
-
Nazareth - 215
-
Alfred - 129
UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS
The Hawks will return for Day Three of the Empire 8 Championships at the Webster Aquatic Center, preliminary heats begin at 10 a.m. and finals are scheduled for a 5:30 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.
