Swimming & Diving Competes in NJCAA National Championships

The Genesee men's and women's swimming teams traveled to Fort Pierce, Florida last week to compete in the NJCAA National Championship meet.

The meet started off with prelims on Wednesday with impressive swims and best times from Ashley Hearn (40.67) for the women, Ethan Heim (30.70), and Brandon Cutter (32.33) for the men in the 50 breaststroke.  In the next event, Hunter Camacho and Tyler Stachowiak (10:49.82/season best) both competed for the men's team in the 1000 freestyle.  Ethan Heim then dove back into the pool for the 200 individual medley with a best time of 2:13.40.  In the women's 50 freestyle, Brianna McMullen got 15th place (29.19).  Carlitos Sanchez (22.20), Brandon Cutter (25.29/personal best), and Raymond Pray (27.28) all had great swims in the men's 50 freestyle.  In the Wednesday night finals McMullen finished in 15th place with a personal best time of 28.96 in the 50 freestyle.  

The Thursday morning prelims started off with Ashton Laird finishing in 16th place for the women's 50 backstroke with a best time of 33.72; Sanchez also had an impressive swim in this event for the men's team finishing in 14th place with a best time of 25.80.  In the 400 individual medley Camacho earned 15th place with a best time of 4:56.18.  Hearn (2:38.00/personal best) and Laird (2:32.94) later swam in the 200 freestyle where Laird got 16th place.  Stachowiak swam in the 200 freestyle for the men's team with a season best time of 1:53.64.  The Thursday night finals started off with the 200 freestyle relay.  The women's relay team of Laird, Hearn, Ana Cerezer, and McMullen finished in 8th place with their best time of the season (2:00.01). The men's relay team of Stachowiak, Camacho, Heim, and Sanchez finished in 7th place with their best time of the season as well (1:32.54).  In the 50 backstroke finals, Laird finished in 16th place with a personal best time (33.59) and Sanchez finished in 15th place (25.97).  Camacho had an amazing swim in the 400 individual medley finals finishing in 14th place with a new personal best time of 4:40.36.  Laird then placed 16th in the 200 freestyle (2:32.38).  The night concluded with the Cougars relay team of Stachowiak, Heim, Camacho, and Sanchez placing 8th in the 400 medley relay with their season best time of 3:56.78. 

Friday morning's prelims started off strong with McMullen (1:19.54) and Laird (1:19.31) competing in the 100 individual medley where Laird placed 16th.  Camacho (5:19.59/best time) and Stachowiak (5:06.64/season best) both competed in the men's 500 freestyle with Stachowiak placing 16th.  Sanchez then got back into the pool for the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.72.  For the women, Hearn (1:29.72) competed in the 100 breaststroke; Heim (1:08.83), and Cutter (1:11.61) both received best times in the men's 100 breaststroke.  In the finals on Friday night Laird finished with a personal best time of 1:18.91 and 16th place in the 100 individual medley.  Stachowiak had another impressive swim in the 500 freestyle finishing 15th with a new season best time of 5:02.35.  The night ended with the 200 yard medley relay.  Sanchez, Heim, Camacho, and Stachowiak finished in 8th place with their fastest time of the season, 1:46.39.

The final day of competition began with McMullen in the pool swimming the 50 butterfly where she placed 15th with a best time of 32.58.  The 1650 freestyle had strong swims by Stachowiak (18:07.00/season best) who placed 14th and Camacho (18:21.42/season best) who placed 15th.  McMullen (1:06.93) got back into the pool with Laird (1:08.56) and Cerezer (1:09.79) to compete in the 100 freestyle where they all received best times.  For the men's 100 freestyle, Sanchez placed 11th and broke yet another of his own school record for the cougars.  Sanchez's time was 47.50 which is .67 seconds faster than his original record in the event.  Hearn completed the women's 200 breaststroke with a personal best time of 3:09.90. In the men's 200 breaststroke both Heim (2:32.27) and Cutter (2:43.38) finished with personal best times.  The Saturday night finals began with McMullen swimming the 50 butterfly and finishing with a new personal best time of 32.06 in 16th place.  Sanchez later placed 14th in the men's 100 freestyle with a time of 48.29.  The night concluded with the 400 freestyle relay.  The women's team of Laird, Hearn, Cerezer, and McMullen finished with a season best time of 4:28.47 in 8th place.  The men's team of Stachowiak, Camacho, Heim, and Sanchez also finished off the night with their best time of the season in 7th place with a time of 3:22.67.

The coaches and returners are excited for the start of next season.  Congratulations to all of the swimmers and good luck to the graduating sophomores!