SAINTS SWEEP POTSDAM IN HOME FINALE

Jan. 18: The St. Lawrence men’s and women’s swim team dove right into 2008 and came out with a pair of wins to start the second half of the season off right over North Country opponent Potsdam State Friday afternoon in the Frank and Lee Augsbury Natatorium, improving both their dual meet records to 4-3.

The women got the momentum going for the Saints as they opened up with a first place medley relay swim, which included senior captain Kim Watcke (Cheshire, CT/Sacred Heart Academy), junior Alida Gerritsen (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Insitute), sophomore Abbey Lynch (Norwood, NY/St. Lawrence Central), and junior Ashley Bogosian (Massena, NY/Peddie).

Lynch, Gerritsen and Watcke each earned first place finishes in individual races, as Lynch led a 1-2-3 finish in the 100-yard free for the Saints by placing first with a time of 55.90, followed by Bogosian (58.04) and first-year Hannah Grimes (Hamden, CT/Hamden).

Gerritsen, who had been abroad in the fall, came back and added a punch to the Saints lineup, winning the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:19.66, following closely by first-year Cassie Dudar (North Caldwell, NJ/West Essex Regional), who placed second. Watcke came out on top in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:03.53, a season-best time.

Others taking first place honors included Grimes, who touched first in the 200-yard free with a time of 2:03.36, followed by Bogosian, who touched second at 2:06.11. First-year Katy Kozminski (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) won the 50-yard free with a collegiate career best time of 25.69, nearly half a second faster than her previous best time this season.

Sophomore Kate Waters (East Dorset, VT/Burr and Burton) was victorious in both the 1000 and 500-yard freestyle races, clocking in at 11:31.47 and 5:40.32, respectively. Senior Katie Alexander ( North Tonawanda, NY/ North Tonawanda) helped pace the Saints by coming in third in both races, swimming a career best time in her 1000, coming in at 12:26.36, while earning a seasonal best time in the 500, touching the wall at 6:02.81.

First year Megan Derby ( Cropseyville, NY/Berlin Jr/Sr. High) also led a 1-2-3 Saints’ finish in the 100-yard fly, touching at 1:03.36, with Dudar and first-year Alden Bush (Hingham, MA/Hingham) coming in second and third, respectively.

On the men’s side, first year Jared Pellerin ( Plattsburgh, NY/Seton Catholic) led the Saints’ efforts with three individual wins. Pellerin swam back-to-back victories in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:51.61) and 200-yard freestyle (1:55.46). The distance freestyler also won the 500-yard free, clocking in at 5:16.46, leading his team to a 1-2-3 finish with sophomore Matt Kirkpatrick (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) and senior captain Dave Burnham (Wilton, CT/Wilton), placing second and third.

Kirkpatrick tallied two wins of his own in the 200-yard IM, touching the wall at 2:09.04, followed closely by first year Rob Sibley (Hudson, NH/Alvirne), who came in with a time of 2:11.46, and in the 100-yard butterfly, winning with a time of 58.43.

Junior Mike Trumbower ( Naples, NY/ Naples) claimed victory in the 100-yard freestyle with a 52.65. Junior captain Matt Feldman ( Weston, MA/Weston) led a 1-2-3 sweep in the 100-yard backstroke, winning with a time of 59.31. Senior Geoff Walano ( Cranford, NJ/ Cranford) and junior Russell Hendrick came in second and third, behind Feldman.

The men’s 200-yard free relay, including Feldman, Burnham, senior Steve Walano (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) and Brandon Barone (Westport, CT/Staples) took first place points to end the meet on a high note for the Saints.

In diving, junior Jason Johnson ( Newark, NY/ Newark) took second place points in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events.

The meet marked the last home competition for six seniors: Kim Watcke, Katie Alexander, Angela Lathwell, Steve and Geoff Walano, and Dave Burnham.

The Saints will travel to Oneonta, NY to face Hartwick College on Saturday, January 19 th. The meet is set to begin at 1:00.