USMMA Men
The USMMA men’s swimming team travelled to York College on Wednesday night for a tri-meet against the host Cardinals and the Panthers of Old Westbury. The Mariners defeated both of their opponents with a total of 111 points to Old Westbury’s 67 and York’s 39. The wins improve the Mariners to 3-1 on the season.
The tri-meet was swum in a short-course meters pool on the campus of York College.
Junior Joshua Jepsen (San Diego, Calif.) led Merchant Marine with three victories on the night. He was a part of the 200 medley relay team that won to start off the night in 1:58.77, and the finished the night on the 200 free relay team that touched in 1:44.98. Individually, he won the 100 individual medley in 1:02.08.
Three other Mariners recorded two wins apiece – senior Blair Roberts (South Jordan, Utah) was on the 200 medley relay team with Jepsen and individually won the 100 fly in 54.46; freshman Logan Propst (Valencia, Calif.) touched first in the 800 free in 9:37.75 and was on the 200 free relay squad; and senior William Kelsik (New Castle, Ind.) was also a member of the 200 free relay squad, while also finishing first in the 200 free with a time of 2:08.32.
Also picking up wins on the night were juniors Robert Zagaja (Centerport, N.Y.) and Karl Sasse (Frederick, Md.) as part of the 200 medley relay team, senior Llorenc Aguiar (Garden Grove, Calif.) as part of the 200 free relay team, freshman Ian Reyes (Cerrito, Calif.) in the 50 free (27.20), which was his first collegiate win, junior John Terselic (Tijera, N.M.) in the 100 free (54.37), senior Case Kuikhoven (Ketchikan, Alaska) in the 100 back (1:06.04), sophomore Jordan Weaver (Olive Branch, Miss.) in the 400 free (4:29.42) and freshman Nicholas Fox (Clive, Iowa) in the 100 breast (1:12.33).
The Mariners will host arch-rival Coast Guard this Saturday, Jan. 16, at the O’Hara Hall Pool beginning at 1 p.m. Before the meet, the swimming & diving program will hold a special Senior Day ceremony for their seven graduating seniors – Aguiar, Kelsik, Kuikhoven, Roberts, Gerrit Porter (Houston, Texas), Alex Rodgers (Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) and Keigan Thompson (Middletown, N.Y.).
USMMA Women
On Wednesday, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women’s swimming & diving team earned a pair of victories over non-conference opponents York and Old Westbury at the Cardinals’ York College Natatorium. The wins improve the Mariners’ record to a perfect 5-0 to start the season.
The tri-meet was swum in a short-course meters pool on the campus of York College.
Five different Mariners picked up three victories each on the night. Freshman Ella Sherrill (Ketchikan, Alaska) was on the 200 medley relay team with classmates Tyler Wickesberg (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Colleen Griffin (Kinnelon, N.J.) that led off the race with a win in 2:25.43. Griffin would also end the meet with a victory in the 200 free relay along with juniors Catherine Don (Quincy, Ill.) and Jolyn Green (Riverside, Calif.) that was victorious with a time of 2:13.95.
Individually, Sherrill touched first in the 100 back (1:16.17) and the 100 breast (1:31.07), Wickesberg triumphed in the 100 individual medley (1:11.38) and the 100 free (1:01.48), Don won the 800 free (10:38.45) and the 100 fly (1:20.96), Green was the winner of the 50 free (32.40) and the 400 free (5:04.40) and Griffin won her first collegiate event, the 200 free with a time of 2:44.26.
Also picking up victories on the night were senior Elizabeth Rose (Hamilton, Ohio), as part of the 200 medley relay team, and sophomore Rebecca Slezak (Middle River, Md.), as part of the 200 free relay squad.
With the two wins, head coach Sean Tedesco now has 99 career women’s dual meet victories. He will look to reach the 100-win plateau when the Mariners host arch-rival Coast Guard this Saturday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. at the O’Hara Hall Pool. Prior to the meet, the Mariners will pay tribute to their lone graduating senior, Rose, with a special Senior Day Ceremony.
