Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSWIM | Syracuse starts farewell tour with strong sweep at Colgate
By Heath D. Williams
Posted: 10/15/07, 1:50 AM EST Section: Sports
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Catrina Roth was gliding through the water faster than anyone else, giving her team a big early lead in the women's 400-yard medley relay.
But her teammates kept urging her to swim faster, cheering her on as if she weren't swimming her team to a two-second lead after her leg of the relay.
The camaraderie didn't fade all afternoon as spirited Syracuse men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept Colgate in the first meet of the 2007-08 season. The men beat the Red Raiders, 170-61, while the women won, 129-94. SU swept all four diving events unopposed.
It was the teams' first meet since the announcement by the athletic department in May that the men's and women's teams will be cut. The 2007-08 season will be their last, and the swimmers seemed to thrive off knowing their opportunities to compete will be coming to an end.
The Syracuse competitors supported each other in the pool, too, winning all four relay races.
Roth said the encouragement of teammates while swimming is pivotal to success.
"You need them behind you, cheering you on," said Roth, a junior. "If I see someone just sitting here, not doing anything, I think, 'Why should I care if you don't care?' It really gets you motivated."
Sophomore Ryan Corcoran, who took first in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races and also swam in the 400-yard freestyle relay, said he supports his teammates because of how close they grow through practices and training.
"You work with these guys all week, that's why you cheer for them," he said. "You really do want them to do well just as badly as you want yourself to do well."
Corcoran, Boldizsar Kiss and Alex Taraskin each won two individual events for the men's team, which took first place in every event.
The women's team overcame a Colgate school record by freshman Caren Guyett in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:24.32). Freshman Natalie Mazzetta won two events for the Orange.
But her teammates kept urging her to swim faster, cheering her on as if she weren't swimming her team to a two-second lead after her leg of the relay.
The camaraderie didn't fade all afternoon as spirited Syracuse men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept Colgate in the first meet of the 2007-08 season. The men beat the Red Raiders, 170-61, while the women won, 129-94. SU swept all four diving events unopposed.
It was the teams' first meet since the announcement by the athletic department in May that the men's and women's teams will be cut. The 2007-08 season will be their last, and the swimmers seemed to thrive off knowing their opportunities to compete will be coming to an end.
The Syracuse competitors supported each other in the pool, too, winning all four relay races.
Roth said the encouragement of teammates while swimming is pivotal to success.
"You need them behind you, cheering you on," said Roth, a junior. "If I see someone just sitting here, not doing anything, I think, 'Why should I care if you don't care?' It really gets you motivated."
Sophomore Ryan Corcoran, who took first in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races and also swam in the 400-yard freestyle relay, said he supports his teammates because of how close they grow through practices and training.
"You work with these guys all week, that's why you cheer for them," he said. "You really do want them to do well just as badly as you want yourself to do well."
Corcoran, Boldizsar Kiss and Alex Taraskin each won two individual events for the men's team, which took first place in every event.
The women's team overcame a Colgate school record by freshman Caren Guyett in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:24.32). Freshman Natalie Mazzetta won two events for the Orange.
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Helen Bayly
posted 10/15/07 @ 9:36 AM EST
SU Swim/Dive teams maintain honorable traditions with sporting rivals at Colgate (noted for their own swim/dive teams) - and obviously inspire your 2 DO reporters Tyler Dunne and Heath Williams. (Continued…)
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