The Colgate women’s swim team hosted a meet this past Saturday, October 14, versus the Loyola Greyhounds. The first meet of the season exhibited the returning talent for the Raiders, but also debuted impressive new additions to the team. Although the meet was met with various individual successes, Colgate unfortunately collected its first loss for the season, with a final score of 147-151.

Senior captains Megan Gallagher and Maggie Carney spearheaded the Raiders’ valiant effort, earning two wins each for the day. Gallagher earned two first-place finishes, in both the 200 and 500-yard freestyles. Carney similarly dominated in the butterfly and collected first place finishes for both the 100 and 200-yard races. 

Also tallying two wins on the day was first-year Caroline LaPlante. Dominating the diving events, she earned 232.05 points to collect the 1-meter title, as well as 259.12 points granting her the 3-meter title. First-year Beth Caruana also brought home her first collegiate victory. She beat out the Greyhounds for first place in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 59.36. 

The first-year takeover persisted for the Raiders as Madison Sullivan and Emma Klein teamed up with their senior teammates Gallagher and Maddy Fitzgerald for the 400-yard freestyle event. The quartet seized first place with a hasty 3:35.49. Carney applauded the first-years on their debuts, congratulating them on the immediate impact they have had on the team.

“We can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings for them,” Carney said.

Senior captain Kim Chan, although saddened by the loss, was eager to celebrate her teammates’ successes in and out of the pool on Saturday.

“Overall the meet was great and I’m really proud of how everyone performed. There were a lot of fast swims and beautiful dives today. As always, everyone was really engaged in what was going on in the pool and off the boards,” Chan said.

The Colgate Raiders are entering this season eager to rise from their previously held seventh seed in the Patriot League standings. They are continuing to train relentlessly for the rapidly-approaching season. In last year’s meet against the Greyhounds, Colgate conceded a loss by 26 points, a notable difference from the meager four extra points that Loyola managed to slip away with this year. 

Although the team has a challenging schedule ahead of them, including Patriot League rivals Boston University, College of the Holy Cross and Lafayette University, Gallagher is not fazed.

“We have a great group of first-years and with coach Andy and Sarah’s guidance, I know we will accomplish great things,” she said.

Looking forward, the Raiders will take on the Binghamton Bearcats here in Hamilton on Saturday, October 28, at noon.

Contact Isabel Van Wie at [email protected].