Results
Team Scores
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY (Jan. 16, 2014) – The Purchase College men's and women's swim teams picked up where they left off in 2013, collecting two non-conference wins in their first action of 2014 Thursday afternoon at Bard College.
The Panthers, who finished the first half of the winter season strong in early December, swam to convincing victories in their return to the pool in a matinee contest against host Bard and Cazenovia.
Purchase dealt Cazenovia a 62-25 loss on the men's side and a 52-43 defeat on the women's side, while also posting a 59-31 win over Bard on the men's side and a 77-17 drumming on the women's side.
The teams, who have both dealt with injuries and a depleted roster to start the second half, showed no ill effects of the recent adversity, something head coach Peter Nestel believes shows the true mettle of the squads. He said both teams have been doing some additional mental training exercises to gear up for February's conference championships and the stretch run of what has been a long season.
"They really have hung in there," Nestel said. "This was our third day back from the break and they've worked so hard. We have a great team on both sides and I'm very pleased by their performance. I credit so much of it to their determination and the extra mental training that we've been doing."
While both Bard and Cazenovia have been in action, as Nestel pointed out, this was the team's third day back from over a month layoff.
However, there was no rust evident in their return to the pool.
The men were paced by Varun Soondar (JR/New Rochelle, NY) and fellow standouts Sam Jaffe (FR/Silver Spring, MD), Andrew Kaplan (SO/Cooperstown, NY) and Phillip Bassell (JR/Pelham, NY).
Jaffe, Soondar, Michael Kastner (SR/Windsor, CT) and Samir Mekrami (SR/Brooklyn, NY) won the 200-yard medley relay for a fast start. Among the other highlights, Kaplan won the 100 freestyle; Jaffe took first in the 100 breaststroke and the foursome of Mekrami, Chris Lynch (SR/East Islip, NY), Aaron Schwartz (SR/Nyack, NY) and Kaplan teamed for another first-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay.
Soondar, Jaffe, Kaplan and Bassell were among the leaders in each of their respective individual races, as well, as Purchase carved up impressive, dominating showings in both ends of the double dual meet on the men's side.
The women were led by Amanda Gibson (JR/Saratoga, NY), who won the 200 individual medley, and Kayla Holland (FR/Hempstead, NY), who performed well in the 50 freestyle and the 100 free. She bested the field in the 100 free, winning in 1:03.90.
Natalie Allen (SO/Staten Island, NY), Bianca Covello (JR/Woodstock, NY), Elana Korn (SR/North Bellmore, NY) and Holland also teamed for an impressive showing in the 200-yard freestyle – the race they sealed the win over Cazenovia for the women's team, as the Panthers took the victory in the final event of the afternoon.
"What an exciting race," Nestel said afterward. "They rallied and we pulled out the win."
The swim program will be back in action on Monday, as they will celebrate Senior Night at home on MLK Day. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a pre-meet ceremony for the seniors. The meet against Old Westbury is set for 7 p.m.
