FIRST YEARS CONTINUE SUCCESS AT

LIBERTY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dec. 3: The St. Lawrence University men's and women's swimming and diving teams finished the Liberty League Championships Saturday evening. The Saints women's swim team finished 5th out of nine teams while the men finished 6th out of eight. First year students Garrett Spencer, Matt Feldman, Nikki DaSilva, and Devan Meserve all had very impressive outings for their first conference championship.

The RPI Red Hawks were crowned Liberty League Champions on the men's side, while the Dutchwomen from Union claimed the top spot for the women. The Saints had some impressive finishs, including a victory for the 200 Women's Freestyle Relay Team. The winning relay team comprised of Nikki DaSilva, Kim Watcke, Meg Vaughn, and Ashley Bogosian, and the won the race with a time of 1:43.17.

Individually, the Saints held their own against some very talented conference opponents. The men's team were led by freshmen Garrett Spencer and Matt Feldman. Spencer finished 12th in the 500 Freestyle with a time of 5:12.95, while Feldman finished 10th out of 38 swimmers in the 200 Freestyle event in 1:54.03.

A combination of experience and youth helped the women's team move up one spot on day two. Junior Kate Farrell had a 5th place finish in the 100 Breastroke (1:12.58), while first year student Alida Gerritsen finished just two spots behind Farrell in 7th (1:14.77). First years Nikki DaSilva and Devan Meserve finished continued to find success, with DaSilva having a 4th place finish in the 100 Backstroke (1:02.10) out of 35 swimmers and a 5th place finish in the 50 Freestyle out of 63 swimmers. Meserve also swam well, with her highest finish coming in the 400IM with a time of 5:04.61 and a 7th place finish out of 29.

The Saints have a few weeks of competition off before returning to the pool on Friday, January 20th to take on the Potsdam Bears in the final home meet of the year. The meet is set to start at 4:00PM.

MEN POINTS

Rensselaer (RPI) 894.50

Union (UNI) 732

Rochester (ROC) 625

Hamilton (HAM) 548

Clarkson (CLK) 262

St. Lawrence (SLU) 204.50

Vassar (VAS) 155

Skidmore (SKID) 11

WOMEN POINTS

Union (UNI) 710

Rochester (ROC) 668

Hamilton (HAM) 581

Vassar (VAS) 468

St. Lawrence (SLU) 362

Rensselaer (RPI) 335

William Smith (WS) 174

Clarkson (CLK) 148

Skidmore (SKID) 119

SAINTS IN 6TH AFTER FIRST DAY AT

LIBERTY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dec. 2: The St. Lawrence University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams completed Day 1 events at the 2005 Liberty League Championships held at RPI. The highlight of the Saints day came from the Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay team, which took first place with a time of 1:43.17.

The winning relay team comprised of Nikki DaSilva, Kim Watcke, Meg Vaughn, and Ashley Bogosian, all underclassmen on the Saints squad. First-year student Devan Meserve finished 19 th in the 500 Freestyle in 5:39.78 out of 55 swimmers for the Saints women’s team.

On the men’s side, freshman Garrett Spencer finished in 12 th place out of 36 swimmers for the Saints in the 500 Freestyle. He swam the race in 5:12.95.

The Saints continue their quest for the Liberty League Championship on Saturday.

MEN                                     POINTS              WOMEN                        POINTS               

Rensselaer  (RPI)                   232.50           Union (UNI)                         218

Union (UNI)                                   229            Hamilton (HAM)                  176

Hamilton (HAM)                            171            Rochester (ROC)               163

Rochester (ROC)                    157.50             Vassar (VAS)                    150

Clarkson (CLK)                             118            Rensselaer (RPI)               113

St. Lawrence (SLU)                         71            St. Lawrence (SLU)           113

Vassar (VAS)                                  50              Clarkson (CLK)                   48

                                                                          William Smith (WS)              42

                                                                          Skidmore (SKID)                 26

SAINT MEN AND WOMEN FALL AT LEMOYNE

Nov. 19: The St. Lawrence Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams fell to Division II Lemoyne Saturday afternoon. The Saint Men (2-4) fell 133-90 to the Dolphins and the Saint Women (3-3) fell 123-99. The freshmen continue to swim well for the Saints, with Garrett Spencer, Alida Gerritsen, Chris Judge all earning wins.

Spencer continued his run of wins, taking first in the 1000 Free and the 500 Free. He also anchored the winning 200 Free relay team. He won the 1000 Free in 10:52.89 over Lemoyne’s Tom O’Connell who finished in 11:04.66. Spencer took the 500 Free in 5:16.42 over O’Connell who finished in 5:22.69. Senior Brian Wasserstein added yet another win to his resume, when he finished first in the 400 IM. He finished in 4:40.71, ahead of Lemoyne’s Matt Stephens in 4:56.50. With Lemoyne swimming exhibition races in the 100 Breat, Judge took first over teammate Justin Lynch. Judge finished in 1:18.48 and Lynch came in at 1:22.01. Garrett anchored the 200 Free Relay team that won in 1:39.38. Freshman Matt Feldman swam the first leg, followed by sophomores Steve and Geoff Walano.

The Saint women took first in the 200 Medley Relay, with a time of 2:00.28. Sophomore Kim Watcke swam the first leg, followed by junior Kate Farrell, freshman Nikki DaSilva, and finally freshman Ashley Bogosian. Watcke took home a second place finish in the 50 Free (26.59) and the 100 Back (1:04.29). Gerritson led a Saints sweep of the 100 Breast, finishing in 1:13.86. Farrell came in second (1:15.38), followed by sophomore Lyndsay Belt in third (1:36.60).

The Saints next prepare for the Liberty League Championships Dec. 2-3 at Rensselaer.

LIBERTY LEAGUE RECOGNIZES

SPENCER AND DaSILVA

Nov. 15: The young guns on the St. Lawrence University swimming and diving teams continued to turn heads this weekend versus Rochester and RIT, and their efforts were rewarded as first years Garrett Spencer and Nikki DaSilva were honored by the Liberty League.

Freshman Garrett Spencer ( Honeoye Falls, NY) was selected as the Liberty League Swimmer of the Week after another solid weekend performance. He picked up two second place finishes in the 1000 Free (10:52.29) and 500 Free (5:18.77) against Liberty League rival Rochester and was also the 4th leg of the 200 Free Relay team for the Saints, with the team winning the race in 1:40.03. The Saints rookie won two individual events (1000 Free in 10:54.15 and 500 Free in 5:19.42) the next day against RIT and anchored the winning 400 Free Relay team as well (3:43.16).

First year swimmer Nikki DaSilva ( Stony Brook, NY) earned Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week honors thanks to her strong performances versus the Yellowjackets and Tigers as well. She was on both of the Saints' winning relay teams versus the University of Rochester, and picked up an individual win of her own in the 100 Backstroke (1:02.62). DaSilva then played an important role in the Saints' win over RIT on Saturday. The rookie took 2nd place in the 50 Free with a time of 26.26, and then went on to win the 200 Backstroke in 2:17.89.

The Saints are back in the pool on Saturday, November 19 th at Lemoyne College. The meet will begin 1:00pm.