BROOKE ATKINS
Staff Writer
After a slow start to the season, the men’s swimming and diving team got its first win of the season Friday night after a meet with Alfred University.
Stepping up to the plate Friday, freshman Jake Favret showed off his progression while winning the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:01.89. Favret beat his teammate junior Adam Clouthier in the same event, who had won a SUNYAC Championship in that event during the 2014-2015 season. Clouthier finished with a time of 1:02.27.
Fredonia beat the Saxons by a score of 153-90.
Junior Troy Lubanski won the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:03.24, and also winning the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.52. Following in Lubanski footsteps, senior Will Baker won the 50-yard freestyle at 22.48 and the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 48.57.
After winning both of his events, Lubanski had a smile no one could take away from him. He spoke highly of the men’s team in his post-meet interview.
“It’s rewarding. It gives you a feeling that all the hard work you put in at practices is paying off,” said Lubanksi. “I love being a part of group of people who want to work hard and help each other out to succeed both in and out of the pool … these people have changed my life, and I’m really so lucky to have them all,”
Junior Arron Carlson and senior Rafael Santiago both came away with NCAA provisional qualifying marks in the one-meter and three-meter dives. Santiago won the three-meter dive with a score of 304.00, just in front of Carlson who came in second at a score of 303.55. They then swapped positions and Carlson came in first in the one-meter events at 288.30 and Santiago in second at 281.60
“It felt good to get an NCAA provisional qualifying score on both boards, it’s a good benchmark to see my progression so far,” Senior Rafael Santiago. “I just want to enjoy the time I have left in this sport, and connect with as many people as possible with the time I have left,” said Santiago.
The team has big plans for the rest of its season and plans to keep improving. Its next meet will be Nov. 21 at home again Nazareth at 1 p.m.