Results

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 8, 2008) – Thanks to an overall team effort highlighted by senior John Alaimo (Blauvelt, NY/Tappan zee) and junior Jeremy Shiman (Brookline, MA/Brookline), the men's swim-dive team notched a 165-117 win over Skidmore College on Saturday at Kresge Pool.

“This is always a big rival for us and it was a goal to show that we were ready for our dual meet season and we did,” said head coach Lisl Prater-Lee. “We needed our first year team members to show that they could compete and they did a great job.”

Alaimo recorded four first place finishes, in the 200-yard butterfly (2:05.41), 100-yard butterfly (55.44), 200-yard IM (2:14.79), and as a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:34.46). Alaimo showed an impressive display of endurance, going directly from the IM to the relay, where he joined Lars Lapann-Johannessen (Landisville, PA/Hempfield), Jack Smart (Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), and Ian Madison (Philadelphia, PA/Holy Ghost) to notch the win.

The 200-yard freestyle relay proved to be a strong event for the Brewers, as the 'B' team of Alan Neuhauser (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood), Dakota House (Orlando, FL/Lake Highland Preparatory), Alistair Hall (Montreal, Canada/West Morris Mendham (NJ)), and Dustin Molina (Toms River, NJ/Ranney School) took second, in 1:37.82.

Vassar nearly swept the relays, coming in just two-tenths of a second behind the winning Skidmore team in the 200-yard medley relay.

Another big event for the Brewers was the 100-yard breaststroke, where Shiman led a 1-2-3 finish, followed by Madison (1:05.71), and Joe Zaino (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Dobbs Ferry) (1:06.78).

Prater-Lee was impressed by the performance of new swimmers contributing crucial second and third place finishes.

“The guys who finished in second and third were crucial because its four points that we get and that Skidmore doesn't get and our guys understand that now,” said Prater-Lee. “They're making a huge contribution that way.”

In particular, Prater-Lee pointed out the performance of freshman Smart, who finished first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:23.27).

“Jack was gutsy today,” said Prater-Lee.

Freshman Greg Sullivan, last week's Liberty League Diver of the Week, turned in career performances in the 1 and 3-meter diving events. He finished second in both, scoring 258.00 in the 1-meter, and 260.50 in the 3-meter.

“It was a fun afternoon and Vassar showed its pride and got up and competed very well,” Prater-Lee said. “However, this can't be the highlight of first semester, there are many more highlights to come. It's the tip of the iceberg and we've all got to believe that.”