Swimming and Diving Ends Regular Season With a Sweep

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Senior Night was a massive success, as both men’s and women’s teams won their meets.(Courtesy of Fordham Athletics)

Fordham Swimming and Diving concluded its regular season last Wednesday with a dual meet sweep at the Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center. The women defeated St. Francis Brooklyn 164–72 to complete an undefeated regular season, while the men topped Wagner College 173–28 to improve their record to 5-3. 

Senior Natalie Ortof led the way for the Rams during an emotional senior night with two first place finishes in the diving events. She won the 1-meter dive with a score of 278.77 and the 3m dive with a score of 250.73. 

Other winners on the women’s side for the Rams included freshman Emilie Krog, who won both the 500 freestyle and the 1000 freestyle with times of 5:04.50 and 10:26.95, respectively. Freshman Ainhoa Martin came out on top in the 100 butterfly at 56.07 and the 200 individual medley at 2:03.88.

Graduate student Vaula Vekkeli triumphed in the 100 freestyle at 53.73, senior Becky Kamau won the 100 breaststroke at 1:04.30 and freshman Leire Martin finished first in the 100 backstroke at 57.14. The final individual event winners for the Rams were freshman Madeline Bergin and junior Clare Culver, who won the 50 and 200 freestyle, respectively.

On the relay side, the Fordham women had two winning squads. Culver and Bergin combined with senior Victoria Navarro and freshman Jessica Zebrowski to conquer the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:37.54, while L. Martin, Kamau, Navarro and Bergin won the 200 medley relay at 1:46.97.

Over to the men’s action, where senior Spencer Clark and sophomore Alex Wilhelm set the pace for Fordham. Clark won both the 50 freestyle at 21.39 and the 100 freestyle at 46.36. Wilhelm was also victorious in two individual events, coming out on top in the 200 freestyle at 1:44.83 and the 100 backstroke at 52.23.

The Rams also secured victories in three additional individual events. Senior Diego Perez finished first in the 1m dive with a score of 238.35, freshman Vitalis Onu took the 100 butterfly crown at 50.69 and freshman Daniel Langlois won the 200 individual medley at 1:56.90.

The men also enjoyed success in the relay events. Clarke, Onu, freshman Kevin Zahariev and junior Nicholas Chao made up the winning squad in the 200 medley relay, finishing in 1:34.72. The Rams also won the 200 freestyle relay, with Wilhelm, Onu, Chao and freshman Stan Stevens combining for a time of 1:25.16.

With the regular season finished, the Rams now turn to the upcoming Atlantic 10 Championship, which begins on Feb.16 in Geneva, Ohio.