By Mikael Desanto
Contributing Writer
The St. Bonaventure University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams hit the pool this past weekend at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio. The men swam against La Salle and Saint Louis, while the women took on those two schools as well as Duquesne.
“I feel that our whole team did a lot better than I expected,” sophomore Matthew Taccard said. “Our team is beat down right now, and we had some fast swims with the conditions we are in.”
Taccard was a part of the winning team in the 200-yard medley relay. The relay consisted of seniors Michael Pilyugin and Matthew Schutt and juniors Michael White and Taccard. White led the team with two individual race wins in the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley.
Last season’s Atlantic 10 most outstanding diver, Alex Marra, a senior, gave the Brown and White their last win of the meet when he won the three-meter diving event.
The women won only one race coming from the 200-yard butterfly performance of senior Elizabeth Malone, who also added a third-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly to her day.
“I was happy with my swims. I was able to get some season-best times,” Malone said.
Sophomores Maria Rocchi and Alyssa Levac added personal bests in the 200-yard breaststroke, while junior Tanja Kirmse finished third in the 200-yard freestyle.
Both teams will next travel to Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday to face the Cleveland State Vikings. This meet is special to Malone in particular because she is from Ohio.
“I know a couple of girls on the team, so it will be great see some familiar faces,” Malone said.
The men’s team will also be looking to make a statement, according to Taccard.
“Cleveland State is a huge competitor for us,” Taccard said. “They are a fast team, and they are going to test our ability at this moment in the season. Coach MacNamee always likes to see us beat Cleveland State because last year was the first time in 10 years we have beat them.”
The Pittsburgh Invitational, which will be held in three weeks, is another meet that both are excited for, as it will be their largest of the season aside from the Atlantic 10 Championships.
“This meet is a chance to let us compete in a three-day meet and try to swim in season best times,” Taccard said of the invitational.
McNamee has been preparing his men’s team for the upcoming meets by splitting them up into groups based on their main stroke. This is to make sure that each swimmer is at their best, according to Taccard.
Malone and Taccard feel that being at their peak at the Atlantic 10 Championships, which will take place at the Spire Institute in February, as the goal at end of the season, especially Malone because it will be the final meet of her college career.
“Our main goal as a team is to win another Atlantic 10 Championship, plain and simple,” Taccard said.
