Bronx, NY – In the final meet of the 2018 calendar year, Manhattan swimming and diving fell to Fordham on Wednesday evening at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center.
The men's team lost by a score of 161-109, while the women's team was defeated 182-86.
Sophomore
Artur Polyak (Haifa, Israel / Pittsburgh) was Manhattan's first individual winner of the meet, taking home the gold in the 100 Back in 52.98 seconds. Junior captain
Timothy Valentine (Massapequa, NY / Chaminade) won the 100 Breast in 1:01.83 and was second in the 50 Breast at 28.73 seconds.
The men's 200 Free Relay team, featuring freshmen
Matthew Shen (Waxhaw, NC / Marvin Ridge) and
Kyle Bergin (Lynbrook, NY / Lynbrook Senior) as well as sophomores
Derek Lederer (Blauvelt, NY / Tappan Zee) and
Charles Ledda (New Fairfield, CT / New Fairfield), had the fastest time, clocking in at 1:30.79.
Junior
Kelsey Eastman (Effort, PA / Wagner) excelled in the 100 Breast for the women, swimming a season-best 1:09.74 to earn silver. Senior
Megan Pagano (Lagrangeville, NY / Arlington) and freshman
Sarah Hamilton (Northland, New Zealand / St. Cuthbert's College) earned the bronze in the 100 IM and 200 Free, respectively.
Manhattan returns to the pool in 2019 when both teams compete in the FIU Sprint Invite, hosted by Florida International, on Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 am. The meet is part of the team's annual training camp that takes place during Winter Break.
