SAINTS FALL TO HAMILTON

Jan. 26: The St. Lawrence University men’s and women’s swim teams continued to drop time in their races Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to surpass a tough Hamilton College, who defeated the Saints in Liberty League action in Clinton, NY.

The men lost 149-68, while the women were defeated 128-85.

The women were led by senior captain Kim Watcke ( Cheshire, CT/Sacred Heart Academy) and first year Hannah Grimes ( Hamden, CT/ Hamden) who won the only individual events for the Saints. Watcke touched the wall first in the 100-yard backstroke, clocking in at 1:03.16, and was the lead-off leg in the victorious 200-yard medley relay, which also included Grimes, sophomore Abbey Lynch (Norwood, NY/St. Lawrence Central), and junior Ashley Bogosian (Massena, NY/Peddie), who finished with a time of 1:54.49.

Grimes led a 1-2-3 punch in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching with a 1:10.07, just ahead of junior Alida Gerritsen (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute), who finished with a 1:13.15. First-year Alden Bush rounded out the top three for the Saints.

Watcke and Gerritsen were also members of the 200-yard free relay, which included also first-years Katy Kozminski (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) and Megan Derby ( Cropseyville, NY/Berlin Junior-Senior High).

Gerritsen earned a second place finish in the 400-yard IM, touching the pads with a 5:01.17, turning in the fastest Saint time this season in the event.

In the sprint races, Bogosian led the Saints in the 50-yard free, clocking in with a 25.88, to place second, just ahead of Kozminski, who finished third with a time of 26.13.

The 100-yard free was an exciting race for the women, as Kozminski earned a second-place finish just behind Continentals’ Olivia Reynolds, while Bogosian touched third. Both Saints earned season-best times, as Kozminski touched the wall at 56.83, while Bogosian came in just behind with a 56.95.

Lynch earned a second place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, coming in at 2:02.35, a season-best time, while Grimes followed with a third place finish (2:05.30). Classmate Kate Waters (East Dorset, VT/Burr and Burton) also tallied a second place finish in the 1000-yard free, touching at 11:27.16, a season best by nearly four seconds.

For the men, sophomore Stephen Dally ( Tonawanda, NY/Canisius) swam to a first place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching at 1:05.00, while teammate Rob Sibley ( Hudson, NH/Alvirne) placed second with a 1:05.73, a season best time.

First-year Jared Pellerin (Plattsburgh, NY/Seton Catholic) had another impressive swim in the 1000-yard free, coming in second with a time of 10:43.06, five seconds under his best time this season.

Junior Matt Feldman ( Weston, MA/Weston) also had a second place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, touching the wall with a time of 59.02.

The men also took a victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay, which included Sibley, senior Steve Walano (Cranford, NJ/Cranford), sophomore Brandon Barone (Westport, CT/Staples) and senior co-captain Dave Burnham (Wilton, CT/Wilton).

The Saints, now both 4-5 in the dual meet season, will travel to Alfred University on February 9th. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1:00pm.