Last Saturday, the men and women’s swimming teams squared off against Patriot League foes Army and Lafayette for tri-meets at the Lineberry Natatorium. The men entered the weekend desperately searching for their first victory of the season. Although the Raiders fell to Army, 186-89, superb efforts from senior Zach Whitman and first-year Taylor Gniewek helped the men tally their first victory of the season with an impressive 162-116 victory over Lafayette. Whitman placed first in both the 100 and 200 butterfly, while Gniewek was able to swim his way to victory in both the 100 backstroke and the 50 freestyle. Sophomore Robert Rutkowski also contributed to the Raider cause by placing third in both the 100 and 200 butterfly events. The men also won the 400 yard freestyle relay on this day. The split results against Lafayette and Army put the men’s overall record at 1-10 for the year and 1-3 in Patriot League play.

On the other hand, the Colgate women came into their tri-meet riding a five-meet winning streak, and neither the Black Knights nor the Leopards could slow down the Raiders. The women swept the meet, beating Army, 193-89, and Lafayette, 156-128. Colgate swept the top three in the 200 freestyle, with sophomores Lisa Marchi and Sarah Sciarrino making the podium along with junior Ashley Bottger, who also won the 100 freestyle. Meanwhile, senior Magdalena Mango and sophomore Alaina Sullivan blew out the competition in the 100 breaststroke, taking the top two spots and finishing a full two seconds ahead of the next competitor. Sullivan, a Shaker Heights, Ohio native, also took home the gold in the 200 breaststroke. Junior Beverly Walker scored victories in both the 100 and 200 backstroke competitions and the 200 IM. First-year Caren Guyett also contributed to the Raider cause with a win in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:08.80. Classmate Emily Kelly won the 500 freestyle, and another first-year, Erin McGraw, won the 100 butterfly. The women’s team’s record is now an impressive 9-3 for the year and 4-1 in Patriot League play.

Both the men and the women will compete in the Patriot League Championships on Thursday, February 21st in Annapolis, Maryland.