Binghamton’s swimming and diving teams finished competition at home Saturday by splitting their dual meet against Colgate. The men claimed victory (167-123), while the women fell short (184-107). Binghamton also claimed a monumental 28 personal best times on the season.
“Wins are nice, but faster times are better,” said junior David Holmes. “I think for a lot of the team it has been nice to find out that they can swim fast no matter how terrible they feel in the water.”
The men powerfully opened and closed the meet with one of their most reliable weapons — their relays. Junior Brian Koizim, sophomore Dylan Hobe, Holmes and freshman Brian Koralewski touched in first for the 400-medley relay (3:33.59) while Holmes, Koizim, sophomore Kaan Tayla and senior Wade Rimbach claimed first in the 400-free relay (3:09.66).
“Everyone stepped up when they had to,” freshman Sean Lorenz said.
Overall, the men claimed 11 individual victories. Holmes dominated both of his events, the 200 fly (1:58.39) and 200 IM (1:55.86), Lorenz claimed first in the 100 (55.33) and 200 (2:00.26) back events and freshman Ryan Graham rounded out Binghamton’s double victories by winning both the one and three-meter diving events.
Tayla returned from injury to touch first in both his 50 (21.28) and 100 (47.22) free events.
“Kaan had the same injury at this time last year and we all know that he swam really fast at champs,” Holmes said. “I’m not worried about Kaan swimming fast in Boston [during the America East Championships], he just will.”
And although the distance program is lacking, Binghamton dominated both distance events.
“We don’t have a real ‘distance guy’ so we try to make due,” Koizim said.
Koizim stalked his competition in the longest event of the meet, the 1,000-yard freestyle, swimming just behind the leader. In the final lap of the race he kicked it into gear and got the victory (10:17.24).
“It’s not exactly an event many of us enjoy,” Koizim said. “Unfortunately someone has to do it.”
Freshman Brenno Varanda and sophomore Nicole Sweeney rounded out the distance victories in the 500 free (4:59.21) and 1,000 free (11:23.30), respectively.
The seniors also finished out their last home meet strong. Wade Rimbach claimed individual victory in the 100 fly (53.19), Eden Payabyab claimed individual victory in the 200 IM (2:18.72) and Nicole Fulgieri and Christine Carroll placed second in the 200 back (2:18.26) and 200 fly (2:18.42), respectively.
“I’d like to congratulate the seniors on going out with a great win, and being part of making the team,” said head coach Patrice Back.
Sophomores Tara Schneider and Samantha Lewis placed second in the 100 back (1:05.85) and 100 breast (1:13.41), respectively. Freshman Aleksandra Grubic placed second in the 50 free (26.09).
“I think it was a rough week for most of us,” Koizim said. “Getting back into the routine of classes and waking up for morning practice is always rough. Walking around campus is also quite draining, seeing as we haven’t done much walking like that in over a month.”
With a week of classes under their belts, the swimmers will likely be adjusted to their rigorous schedules and begin feeling the effects of taper when they take on the Stony Brook Seawolves Saturday at 2 p.m.
“You might not always feel great, but you have to push through it,” Koizim said.