Saints Finish 8th After Final Day of UNYSCSA Championships

by: 

Tara Freeman

Senior captain Chris Woolston earned gold in the 200 Yard Backstroke Final.

Feb. 28:  The St. Lawrence University Men's Swimming and Diving Team concluded competition at the UNYSCSA Championships, Sunday in Syracuse, NY, with 522 points to put them in 8^th place overall.

After earning a NCAA A Cut qualifying time in the 200 Yard Backstroke preliminary race, senior captain Chris Woolston earned gold in Sunday night's final with a time of 1:50.61.  Sophomore Andrew Hayes also had a strong race, finishing 12^th with a time of 2:00.22 in the same event, while first-year Jason Dutra followed in 16^th place with a time of 2:01.86.

Sophomore Russ Newton swam an impressive 1650 Yard Freestyle, finishing 6^th with a time of 16:51.14.  Junior Jared Pellerin also had a successful race, earning 14^th in the same event with a time of 17:18.10.  First-year Alex Root continued to show off for the Saints, following his teammates in 20^th place with a time of 17:36.41.

In the 200 Yard Butterfly, first-year Elias Schoen had a solid performance, earning 8^th place with a time of 2:00.43.

Rounding out the individual competition, senior Stephen Dally grabbed the 15^th spot in the 200 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:15.02, over a half a second faster than his preliminary time.  Junior Rob Sibley also fared well, finishing less than a second behind his teammate with a time of 2:15.72.

The Saints wrapped up the meet with two solid relays.  The 400 Yard Freestyle Relay ‘A' team, composed of Dutra, Sibley, senior Brandon Barone, and Woolston, took 9^th with a a four second time drop off their preliminary time to finish in 3:12.66. The Saints ‘B' team, made up of Dally, first-year Greg Obernesser, Newton, and Schoen, took 23^rd with a time of 3:24.44.

The UNYSCSA Championships end the Saints regular season competition.