SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (November 4, 2017) – The Vassar College men's swimming and diving team, taking just 11 competitors to Skidmore College Saturday, were able to travel to Saratoga Springs, NY Saturday and earn a very strong victory over the Thoroughbreds 153-125 in action from Williamson Sports Center.
 
The key to the victory for the Brewers (2-1) was the ability to pick up points throughout the races, not just honing in on picking up victories though there were a fair amount Saturday. VC started the meet with four points in the 200 medley relay, as the quartet of Rowan McDowell, Jonah Strand, Harrison Taylor and Matthew Imiolek swam a 1:43.81.
 
In the first individual event of the day, Jordan Kalina chalked up a season-best time in the 1000 freestyle for the win, posting a time of 10:38.24. Newcomer Finn Belanger chalked up three points as well for VC, swimming a 12:13.62 for third place.
 
The 200 freestyle saw Vassar's second individual win of the day, as freshman Max White earned the comfortable three second victory, as he pulled ahead through the second 50 yards to post a 1:50.78 win. Freshman Parker Bartz was fourth in the event with a 2:02.12.
 
In the 100 backstroke, McDowell took second place after swimming a 1:01.89 to earn four more points for the Brewers. VC had a strong finish in the 100 breaststroke thanks to a victory from senior Jonah Strand, who earned three individual victories Saturday. Strand posted a time of 1:00.94 for the win, while Danny Dunn finished fourth after swimming a 1:13.27.
 
The 200 butterfly was a rare dual race between one swimmer from both squads, and Vassar picked up the nine points as Taylor pulled away steadily throughout the race for a 2:14.63 victory over Owen Kula of Skidmore. In the 50 free, Imiolek won by over a body length with a tie of 22.93, as Bartz (24.64) and Kalina (24.70) were 4-5 as well to pick up three more points.
 
Right after the break, Imiolek would add another win in the 100 free, this time out-touching Hiro Kamei of Skidmore with a personal-best time of 51.18. In the 200 backstroke, Vassar went 1-2 as White posted a 2:05.14 followed in second place by McDowell with a personal-best 2:12.70.
 
Strand earned his second victory of the day in the 200 breast, as he cruised to a 12-second win after booking a 2:15.34. Teammate Danny Dunn swam a huge personal-best in the 200 breast, improving by 2.7 percent from her previous best. Kalina was back in the pool to earn another distance win, taking the 500 freestyle with a season-best time of 5:07.41.
 
A huge turning point for the Brewers was the 100 butterfly, as Vassar went 1-2 in the event to earn 13 points. White picked up the win with a 55.82, followed closely by teammate Harrison Taylor and his 56.99. VC chalked up another 1-2 finish in the 200 IM as well, as Strand and McDowell went 1-2 with times of 2:09.35 and 2:14.44, respectively.
 
Although Vassar had a bit of point cushion going into the final event, the Vassar men put together a solid, 1st-place relay in the 400 free relay with Harrison Taylor (52.43), Imiolek (50.81), Kalina (52.64), and White (48.58) teaming up for a season-best 3:24.46 victory.
 
On the planks, Vassar had another good day, as senior Connor Martin posted a third-place finish in the 1-meter event with 160.05 points. Junior Marvin Corleto was fourth in the 1-meter diving competition with 129.00 points, earning valuable points for Vassar.
 
VC will be back in the pool next Saturday, November 11 at 1 p.m., taking on RPI in Troy, NY.