Senior Traci Liberi was a double winner Saturday. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – A one-two finish in the 200 breaststroke by senior Brian Griffin (Petersburg, Va.) and freshman Kevin Palumbo (Greece, N.Y./Greece Arcadia) sealed the 126-105 win for the Niagara University men’s swimming and diving team over Iona College (0-2) Saturday in the Mulcahy Center Pool in New Rochelle, N.Y.
With the score at 115-99, Griffin won the event in 2:15.73, Palumbo was second in 2:19.05 and junior Joe Kirchgraber (Buffalo, N.Y.) took fifth. Trailing 55-51, freshmen Pat Garvey (Pine Bush, N.Y.) and Kevin Betts (Victor, N.Y.) took one-two in the 200 fly to put Niagara ahead, 65-60.
"This was a tremendous effort by everybody and they stepped up today," Niagara head coach Pete Thompson said. "A lot of student-athletes were swimming out of their normal events and they swam beyond where they thought they could swim."
Senior Nate Katz (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) had the upset of the day, beating the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference 100 free champion Kamil Kulczycki with a time of 49.71. Katz also captured the 200 free (1:51.91).
Also winning were Garvey in the 400 IM (4:25.15), sophomore Dave Germain (Oswego, N.Y.) in one- and three-meter diving (2:47.05 & 216.52), junior Andy Farmham (Sanborn, N.Y./Niagara Wheatfield) in the 500 free (5:11.47) and the 400 free relay team of Farnham, Katz, Betts and Joe Lawton (Olathe, Kan.).
The women’s swimming and diving team (6-4, 5-2) had its six-meet winning streak snapped when they lost 122-112 to Iona (2-1).
Senior Traci Liberi (Churchville, N.Y.) won the 200 free (2:00.25) and the 100 free (54.84), freshman Kelly Kennedy (York, N.Y.) the 50 free (25.28), junior Emily Zimdahl (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) the one- and three-meter diving (211.05 & 195.60), junior Jody Pangburn (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West) the 200 fly (2:22.13) and the 400 free relay of sophomore Heather Link (Niagara Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara Wheatfield), Pangburn, Liberi, and freshman Mariah Glass (Oswego, N.Y.).
Niagara returns to action Dec. 3-4 when it travels to Baltimore, Md., to swim Loyola, Marist and Colgate.
