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EASTON, Pa. – In a highly anticipated event, Lafayette swimming and diving teams faced off against their long-time rivals, Lehigh, at the well-regarded Weinstein Natatorium. Marking both an annual rivalry meet and senior night, the men’s team suffered a significant defeat against the Mountain Hawks with a final score of 210-90, while the women’s team followed suit, ending their contest at 178-120.
A remarkable total of 10 pool records were shattered during this exciting evening, showcasing the extraordinary talents of both Lafayette and Lehigh athletes.
Highlighting the evening’s achievements, senior diver Shaylee Daniels made a stunning mark by breaking the school record in the women’s 1-meter dive, achieving an impressive score of 267.90, which qualifies her for the NCAA Division I Zone A Regionals. She also broke the school’s record in the 3-meter dive with a notable score of 255.08, earning second-place finishes in both events.
In a standout performance, junior Isabella Van Ess set a new school record in the 100-yard breaststroke with a remarkable time of 1:04.72, securing a second-place finish. She didn’t stop there; Van Ess also captured both the school and pool records in the 200-yard breaststroke with an outstanding victory time of 2:18.14.
On the men’s diving front, sophomore Landon Orth impressed everyone by breaking the pool record in the 3-meter dive with a spectacular score of 305.18, earning him a first-place finish.
In distance swimming, senior Kurtis Campbell claimed first place while setting a new pool record with a swift time of 9:22.54 in the 1000-yard freestyle event.
For the women, senior Maggie Ivie demonstrated her skills by finishing second in the 100-yard backstroke with a competitive time of 58.31. Freshman Sarah Green showed promise as she clinched second place in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall at 24.53 seconds. Junior Emma Luttrell’s consistency led her to a third-place finish in the 1000-yard freestyle, where she finished with a time of 10:36.55. Additionally, senior Sophia Toomey earned a solid third in the 100-yard butterfly, clocking in at 57.87 seconds.
Sophomores Diedre McKenna Scudder, Abigail Bebel, and Natalie Johnson each added to the team’s success by securing third-place finishes in their respective events: the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.91), the 200-yard butterfly (2:07.48), and the 100-yard freestyle (53.42).
The relay team of Ivie, Van Ess, Toomey, and Johnson showcased their teamwork by finishing second in the 200-yard medley relay with a combined effort time of 1:45.61.
On the men’s side, juniors Tommy Weber and Sean McManus stood out with second-place finishes in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.63) and the 200-yard butterfly (1:52.91), respectively, while senior Avery LeTourneau secured a commendable second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 50.05. Sophomore Alexander Zoldan’s strong performances earned him second and third in the 500-yard freestyle and 1000-yard freestyle with times of 4:35.77 and 9:29.72, respectively.
Further adding to the competition, senior Jack Oleson claimed second place in the 200-yard breaststroke while also finishing third in the 100-yard breaststroke with times of 2:06.61 and 57.09, respectively. Classmate Peter Kawash finished third in the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:07.90, and sophomore Alexander Reihl earned third-place finishes in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle with times of 20.97 and 45.91.
In women’s diving, Gianna Bobrowski delivered a strong performance, finishing third in the 1-meter dive with a score of 238.13.
On the men’s diving side, junior Peter Curtis had an impressive outing, finishing second in both diving events with scores of 275.78 in the 1-meter dive and 301.28 in the 3-meter dive. Sophomore Trey Telleen placed third in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events with scores of 265.50 and 231.98, respectively.
Reflecting on the meet, Lafayette head coach James Dailey expressed his pride, stating, “It was a great meet. Everyone swam or dove beyond expectations. I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments tonight. We’ve been through a lot the last couple of weeks with illness and injury. They all came back from it and gave it everything they had.”
Looking ahead, the Maroon and White will have a period of training before their next competition at Mount St. Mary’s on January 20, where they will compete at 1 p.m.
What strategies did Shaylee Daniels use to stay calm and focused during the high-pressure environment of the rivalry meet?
**Interview with Shaylee Daniels: A Record-Breaking Performance at the Rivalry Meet**
*Interviewer*: Welcome, Shaylee! Thank you for joining us today. First off, congratulations on your amazing performance at the Lafayette vs. Lehigh swimming and diving meet. Breaking records is no small feat!
*Shaylee Daniels*: Thank you! It was such an exciting night, and I’m really proud of how we all competed.
*Interviewer*: You not only broke the school record in the women’s 1-meter dive but also in the 3-meter dive. Can you tell us what was going through your mind as you prepared for these dives?
*Shaylee Daniels*: Absolutely. There’s a lot of pressure, especially at a rivalry meet where emotions run high. I focused on staying calm and trusting my training. My teammates were incredibly supportive, which helped ease my nerves.
*Interviewer*: It sounds like the team spirit was strong that night. Can you describe the atmosphere at Weinstein Natatorium during the meet?
*Shaylee Daniels*: The atmosphere was electric! The stands were full of fans, and it felt like everyone was cheering for us. Even though we didn’t win the energy was contagious, and it pushed us to perform our best.
*Interviewer*: You also qualified for the NCAA Division I Zone A Regionals with your performance. How does it feel to achieve such a significant milestone?
*Shaylee Daniels*: It’s exhilarating! Qualifying for the regionals has been a goal of mine for a long time, and it feels incredible to see that hard work pay off. I can’t wait to compete at that level.
*Interviewer*: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the rest of the season?
*Shaylee Daniels*: I want to continue pushing myself to break my own records and help the team improve in every meet. It’s also about supporting my teammates as we head into the championships.
*Interviewer*: what’s your message to young swimmers and divers who look up to you?
*Shaylee Daniels*: Focus on your passion and enjoy the process! Every dive or swim is a chance to learn something new. And always remember, your teammates are invaluable. Support each other, and you’ll achieve great things together.
*Interviewer*: Thank you, Shaylee! Best of luck with the rest of your season. We’re all excited to see what you accomplish next!
*Shaylee Daniels*: Thank you for having me! I appreciate the support!