Results
Purchase, NY (Dec. 11, 2013) – The quartet of Andrew Latona, Sam Jaffe, Andrew Kaplan and Matthew Rafanelli sure can sing a capella.
And the Purchase College men's and women's swim teams certainly know how to make a grand entrance when it comes to home openers. On an evening when the aforementioned foursome sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem, the Panthers overwhelmed visiting Brooklyn College in both ends of the meet, winning handily 105-97 on the women's side and 106-83 on the men's side, with the latter of the two going exhibition.
The women's meet was the closer of the two, as Brooklyn put up a valiant effort in defeat. Meanwhile, the Panther men were sharp from the outset, leaping out to a commanding lead and never looking back.
Latona (FR/Silver Spring, MD), Jaffe (FR/Silver Spring, MD), Michael Kastner (SR/Windsor, CT) and Varun Soondar (JR/New Rochelle, NY) posted a first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay, providing the Panthers a quick 11-6 margin after the first event. Samir Mekrami (SR/Brooklyn, NY) followed in victory in the 1,000 freestyle and Kaplan and Chris Lynch (SR/East Islip, NY) went one-two, respectively, in the 200 freestyle.
Soondar secured his second first-place finish of the night in the 50 free (25.03), and Jaffe duplicated the feat, posting a 2:08.98 time, good enough for first, in the 200 IM.
Not to be outdone, Latona bested the field in the 100 butterfly (59.47). Kaplan added another first-place finish in the 100 freestyle and Latona, who was extremely impressive on the night, completed his evening with a first-place finish in the 100 backstroke.
By event 18, Purchase was running away with the meet. Mekrami won the 500 freestyle and then the Panthers ran exhibition down the stretch.
On the women's side, the Panthers also started on the right foot, taking first in the 200 MR behind the foursome of Natalie Allen (SO/Staten Island, NY), Anna Krol (JR/Oceanside, NY), Catherine Rogers (FR/Shorham, NY) and Lisa Lakeman (JR/East Hampton, NY).
Brooklyn won the 1,000 freestyle and the 200 free, but Lakeman put the Panthers back in position for the victory in event 7, taking first in the 50 freestyle. She won the event in 27.34.
Amanda Gibson (JR/Saratoga, NY) continued that trend in the 200 IM, capturing a first-place finish, and shortly later another first in the 100 free. Gibson spurred the Panthers to a strong position late in the meet.
The Bulldogs refused to go quietly on the women's side, however, adding victories in the 100 backstroke and the 500 free, but Gibson once again pushed the Panthers forward, earning her third individual win – this time in the 100 breaststroke.
The late win by Gibson secured the contest as Purchase improved to 3-3-1 on the women's side and 3-4 on the men's side.
The losses dropped Brooklyn to 4-6 on the women's side and 1-7 on the men's side.
Purchase returns to action on Dec. 14 for a tri-meet at Bard College that also includes Sarah Lawrence. That will be the final meet for the Panthers before the winter break.
Panther head coach Peter Nestel was singing the praises of his teams following another solid night in the pool, perhaps one that was inspired musically by the talents of Latona, Jaffe, Kaplan and Rafanelli (FR/Commack, NY).
"A really terrific evening for our teams," said Nestel, who also noted the strong fan support, with a large crowd in attendance. "I'm very proud of them. We are at that point, late in the season, when we are trying to get everything in order and ready for the postseason push.
"This was a non-conference meet, but it was an important one, and the same will be said for the upcoming tri-meet. We then come back in January and gear up for the championships in early February. All in all, this was a great night for our program."
You could say, sweet music, indeed.
