Results
Purchase, NY
(Dec. 5, 2017) – Purchase swim celebrated its largest senior class in recent memory Tuesday night, honoring 10 in their final home meet of the 2017-18 season.
The Panthers rung in Senior Night with strong performances against non-conference rival Brooklyn College. The Purchase women defeated Brooklyn 103-78. The men fell 138-46.
For the Senior Night festivities,
Sports Information Director Bobby Ciafardini introduced the 10 seniors in a brief ceremony. During that ceremony, new
head coach J. Brian Hansbury delivered a heartfelt speech about his first-year group.
The men and women had five seniors on each side recognized. The 10 will be celebrated again during the program's annual awards banquet in late April. The seniors received certificates of appreciation from the SID office, along with flowers and other tokens from the coaching staff.
On the men's side, seniors
Robert Ashkinos (SR/Sparkill, NY),
Daniel Demopoulos (SR/White Plains, NY),
Nicholas Green (SR/Brooklyn, NY),
Bryant Mora (SR/Ozone Park, NY) and
Robert Olejarz (SR/Brooklyn, NY) were celebrated. On the women's side,
Alex Lally (SR/Mesquite, TX),
Kristen O'Reilly (SR/Bronx, NY),
Madi Smith (SR/Lagrangeville, NY),
Jill Trazino (SR/New York, NY) and captain
Lorena Peralta (SR/Bronx, NY) were recognized for their contributions to the program.
Hansbury called his senior group the "foundation" of the program, thanking them for giving him a great first year as a head coach at Purchase. Most notably among the group are senior leaders Olejarz and Peralta, who have "anchored the program" the past few seasons, Hansbury said. The two were the final seniors introduced on each side of the program.
Peralta helped the Panthers jump out to an early lead on the women's side. She joined with fellow seniors Smith, O'Reilly and
Rachel DeSimone (SO/Red Hook, NY) in leading the Panthers to a win in the 200-yard medley relay. The four took the event in 2:16.66.
Katherine Lopez (JR/Dix Hills, NY) was masterful again in the 1,000 freestyle. She won the event in 13:39.67.
Brooklyn earned victories in the 200 MR and the 1,000. Joe Lee won the 1,000 for the visitors. In addition, the Bulldogs won the 50 freestyle (Peter Khimitch) and the 200 freestyle (Brian Jensen) on the men's side.
O'Reilly returned to the pool in event 5, earning a first-place in the 200 free (2:37.54) – good for another nine points.
DeSimone also earned a first in the 50 free (29.94) before Peralta closed out the first portion of the meet with a strong showing and first-place finish in the 200 IM (2:35.12).
Meanwhile, Demopoulos and Ashkinos looked good in the 200 free and the 50 free, respectively, taking second and third place.
But Brooklyn would pull away on the men's side. The Purchase women would start to do the same.
The Bulldogs won the 200 IM, 200 butterfly and the 100 free on the men's side.
Leah Henry won the 100 free, but Peralta bested the field in 200 backstroke, while Lopez picked up another first-place finish of her own in the 500 freestyle.
Brooklyn won the 500 free on the men's side. Panther standout rookie
Eric Lee (FR/Bayside, NY) finished second in the event, with Olejarz posting a third-place finish. Demopoulos also scored a second in the 200 butterfly.
The meet wrapped with Brooklyn taking both 200 breaststrokes and the men's 200 free relay, and the Purchase women winning the final relay.
Purchase concludes its regular season this weekend in a tri-meet. The Panthers are also set to host the Skyline Conference Championships in late January.
