BROOKLYN, N.Y.  – With a 118-87 victory at Brooklyn (3-3) Dec. 9, William Paterson men's swimming and diving (8-1) concluded the 2017 half of its season, using a triple-winning performance from senior Anthony Taboadela (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) and three double-winning outings to continue the team's winning ways.
 
This season's nine meets could not have turned out any better in terms of personal victories for Taboadela, who won his 24th, 25th and 26th single events of the season, going 26-for-26 in such competition. The Rockaway, N.J., native touched first in the 200 IM (1:59.45), 100 back (55.10) and 100 breast (1:02.28).
 
The three double winners for WP came in the way of junior diver William Barrett (Pompton Lakes, N.J. /Pompton Lakes ), senior Sammuel Melendez (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) and sophomore Jimmy Sharkey (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West). Barrett out-performed the field to secure the one-meter (182.55) and three-meter (187.60) dives, while Melendez coasted to victories in the 200 free (1:53.46) and 100 fly (55.36), setting two personal bests. Sharkey broke the 11-minute mark to take the 1,000 free (10:58.56) and also added a win in the 500 free (5:13.48). The Hamilton, N.J. native's time in the 1,000 free was a career best, dropping a remarkable 28.89 seconds off of his previously-held fastest time set against Old Westbury Dec. 2. He shaved 13.61 seconds off of his previous personal record in the 500 free as well. 
 
Junior Drew Macchia (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) provided a win of his own, out-pacing the competition in the 50 free (23.11). Macchia also anchored WP's triumph in the 200 free relay (1:32.12), joining sophomore Eamon Logue (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Twp.), junior Ryan Achyuthuni (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) and Melendez.
 
The Pioneers also had a series of notable second-place times. Freshman Bradley Belina (Paramus, N.J. /Paramus) kept his consistent season going with second-place times in the 1,000 free (11:53.35) and 500 free (5:47.68). Logue added eight individual points with runner-up times in the 200 free (1:55.70) and 100 free (50.52), junior Kordian Starczyk (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) touched the wall in 2:19.19 200 IM and first-year Thomas Haughey (Folsom, Pa. /Ridley) set a personal best with a 1:01.85 in the 100 back.
 
WP will head into 2018 carrying an 8-1 record as it won't compete again until it hosts Lehman for Senior Day Saturday, Jan. 13., at 1:00 p.m. The Pioneers will travel to Trinidad for the team's annual winter break training trip, with the departure date set for Jan. 3.
 
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