Lehigh University
NJIT
Mountain Hawks roll past NJIT on Sunday
11/9/2008 3:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
 |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh swimming and diving teams bounced back from a rough day Saturday in New Jersey with a convincing sweep of undermanned NJIT Sunday afternoon at Jacobs Pool. The Mountain women cruised to a 126-25 victory in their 13-event meet, while the men prevailed by a 121-62 score. The Lehigh women evened their record at 3-3 while the men improved to 4-2.
NJIT has just eight women and 14 men in its program, which allowed Lehigh head coach Rob Herb to juggle his lineup, and get his younger swimmers some more in-race seasoning. Because Lehigh had clinched wins so far in advance, the Mountain Hawks swam unscored in the last eight events on the slate.
Freshman Patrick Holmes had a breakout day to lead the Lehigh men. Holmes stepped in for senior Dan Johnson and took top honors in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events, with a time of 22.54 in the 50 and 49.39 in the 100. Classmate Chris Toth led a 1-2-3 sweep of the 200 free; while Angelo DiGiacinto also picked up a race win with his triumph in the 100 fly. Upperclassmen winners for Lehigh included senior Brian Curci, who led a top-three sweep in the 200 IM, junior Kevin McGrath, who won the 1000 free, and sophomore Andrew DiPietro, who captured the 100 backstroke.
On the women’s side freshman Priscilla Barletta was a double-winner, capturing the 100 fly in 59.99 and the 100 back with a time of 1:03.29. Fellow freshmen Elizabeth Cava, Jill Rann, Alena Pollitt, and Rachel Nordberg all picked up event wins as well, as did sophomore Lauren Kindrick, who took top honors in the 100 free.
“On a day where we had little rest this group came out and dominated,” said Lehigh head coach Rob Herb. “I know this group has done the work to be at a different level and it is coming along.”
The Mountain Hawks will be back in the pool on Friday, November 21 when they travel to Easton for their annual showdown with rival Lafayette. The meet gets underway at 6 p.m. from the Leopards’ Ruef Natatorium.
