WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson men's swimming and diving team had eight different swimmers win individual events as the Pioneers (7-1) downed the Old Westbury Panthers (2-6), 100-70, Dec. 2, sharing the victory with those in attendance for Parents Appreciation Day.
Leading the way for WP was sophomore
Jimmy Sharkey (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) and senior
Anthony Taboadela (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills), as both won two events apiece. Sharkey set a personal-best time during his 1,000 free victory (11:27.45) and also secured the 200 IM (2:23.48) six events later. Taboadela brought home wins in sprint and long distance events, taking the 50 free (22.84) as well as the 500 free with a stellar time of 5:01.83.
Following up those two were six single winners. Junior
Drew Macchia (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) touched first in the 200 free (1:55.56), narrowly edging sophomore teammate
Eamon Logue (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Twp.)'s time of 1:56.81, and senior
Sammuel Melendez (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) earned nine points with a win in the 100 fly (55.79). The Pioneers had a pair of freshmen claim events, as
Valentine Perez (Hamilton, N.J. /Hamilton) posted his first-career collegiate triumph in the 100 breast (1:16.43) and
Thomas Haughey (Folsom, Pa. /Ridley) clipped Sharkey to win the 100 back (1:02.14).
Saturday's two diving events were swept by the Pioneer men, as sophomore
Emmanuel Garcia (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) claimed the one-meter dive (185.70) and junior
William Barrett (Pompton Lakes, N.J. /Pompton Lakes ) posted a career-best score in the three-meter dive (200.34).
The two relay events of the day also went to WP, with freshman
John Conlow (Mount Laurel, N.J. /Lenape), Perez, freshman Honacy Beco Jr. and Macchia winning the 200 medley (1:54.62), while Taboadela, Melendez, Logue and Macchia cruised to first in the 200 free with a strong time of 1:31.50.
The win keeps the Pioneers undefeated in non-conference competition this year. WP completes the 2017 portion of the season when it heads to Brooklyn (2-2) Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1:00 p.m.
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http://www.wpupioneers.com and
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