The College of Staten Island men’s and women’s swimming & diving squads took on York College in the final CUNYAC regular meet of the season at the CSI Sports & Recreation Center in Staten Island, NY. The Dolphins won the overall meet 292-87, and had a 178-27 finish on the men’s side while the women won 114-60. Staten Island honored two competing seniors tonight Kelly Walsh and Caitlin McLoughlin.
The Dolphins got off to a good start when they comfortably defeated the Cardinals in the 200 yard medley relay on both sides. The team of Samantha Escobedo, Naomi Gaggi, Ewa Wojciechowska, and Jamila Mambetalieva took the top spot with a time of 2:10.51. The men’s relay team which consisted of Nicholas Defonte, Brandon Lei, Tommy Gaspar, and Christopher Sorenson finished with a time of 1:51.36 a full 22 seconds before the Cardinals.
Walsh picked up a big first place finish in the 50 yard freestyle, which she rarely participates in, for the women when she posted a time of 29.23. The men were up in the pool next for the same event which saw Tim Sweeney set a personal best of 21.93.
Both the men and the women would head into the break with a lead. On the men’s side they would going into the diving portion of the meet with at 54-14 lead while the women held a 39-35 advantage.
McLoughlin picked up a first place finish in the 1 meter dive with a score of 183.70 which was backed up by a second place finish by Jessica Shaw. The El Haddad brothers once again dominated the diving in both the 1 meter and 3 meter diving to extend the men’s lead over the Cardinals. Ayman took the top spot in both dives with a 252.90 in the 1 meter and 219.40 in the 3 meter.
Walsh picked up yet another first place finish after the break in the 100 yard freestyle when she touched the wall with a time of 1:06.12.
Gaggi, later in the meet, would secure a much needed 9 points for the Dolphins with at time of 6:09.68 in the 500 yard freestyle. Stephen O’Driscoll came in first in the 500 yard freestyle for the men which put the meet out of reach for the Cardinals.
The Dolphins will now wait until the CUNYAC Postseason Championship meet which takes place on February 5,6, and 7 at Lehman College.