“I think this team has a great attitude and a great energy to them,” head coach Mike Holman said. “And it’s shown in the races.”

The Oswego State swimming and diving teams saw records broken, personal bests achieved and hardware brought home in the SUNYAC championships at the Burt Flickinger Aquatic Center on Saturday, Feb. 21. 

The Lakers finished third overall for both men’s and women’s competitions, underlining their prowess and consistency in the water. Senior Jayna Laferriere put on an explosive show, earning the SUNYAC Female Swimmer of the Meet award, finalizing the weekend with three gold medals in individual events while also entertaining audiences in relays. 

Laferriere first established a strong tempo and reputation in the 100-yard freestyle, when she took home gold in the event with a time of 52.05, a new personal record in the event. In addition, Aurora Jarvie and Katie Burch finished at sixth and eighth place in the race, respectively. 

Also putting on a show was sophomore Mitchell Stevens, who broke a nearly 50-year-old record in the 200-yard butterfly. Stevens was originally seeded fifth in the event, but exceeded expectations and took first place in a time of 1:54.97. 

The veterans showed out again, as junior Isabelle Dague took second place in the 200-yard backstroke, concluding the event in 2:06.30 – a time that also set a new school record. Senior Emily Lotito completed the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:30.59 for a third place finish, while Anna Baker finalized a sixth place finish in the event.

The younger athletes impressed too, as freshmen Joscelyn Coniski and Gabrielle Janeski finished third and sixth in the 200-yard butterfly, respectively. Bella McDonald built on the momentum, concluding the 1650-yard freestyle in fifth place, while Emily Seldin closely trailed in the race for a seventh place finish. 

The Lakers worked cohesively to impress as a team, with the “A” team of Dague, Jarvie, McDonald and Laferriere finishing second in the 400-yard freestyle relay. 

Four different Lakers finished within the top 10 of the A final of the men’s 100-yard freestyle, with Samuel Waddell leading the charge in second place, while Duncan Smith, Antonio Medina and Ryan Murphy finished in sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively. 

In the final individual race of his career at Oswego, graduate student and captain Nathan Ratta Vine brought home bronze in the 200-yard breaststroke. Furthermore, sophomore Manav Sindhi took a seventh place finish in the event.

To end the meet, the “A” relay team – composed of Smith, Waddell, Ratta Vine and Medina – finished third overall in the 400-yard freestyle relay. 

“I wouldn’t want to go out with any other team or coaching staff,” Ratta Vine, who hails from Glenville, New York, said. Ratta Vine is one of five athletes one the team who are graduating this Spring.