By Grace Malec, Sports Editor
Although autumn may be in full swing at Aquinas College, the swim and dive teams and student section brought the beach to AQ, hosting a beach themed game of the week at East Grand Rapids High School on Oct. 19.
It was an eventful weekend for the Saints, with both the women’s and men’s team taking the lead over Albion College and the University of Olivet and setting multiple school records in the process. Divers Taylor Moss and Evan Bennett both set the school record for their three meter dives. Swimmer, Emma Dale, also set records for both her 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke races, receiving times of 1:10.39 and 2:37.87. The record setting did not stop there for the Saints. Emersyn Joslin, Emma Dale, Claire Hines and Chloe Boivin set the school record for the women’s 200 medley relay, with the time of 1:50.51.
The hard work the team has put in both in the pool and on dry land has paid off. Sophomore Lauren Mezeske said, “We have been putting in an immense amount of work, and it’s paying off and showing with all of our school records we break meet after meet.” From both the records broken and the national qualifiers, it is clear that the effort the entire team has been putting in has been successful. In addition to the records broken at the Saints home meet, divers Evan Bennett and Troy Borrero both qualified to compete in the national meet and represent the Saints.
With the swim and dive program being newly established, the team took time to celebrate their first graduating senior of the program, Christopher Uzunoe-Chin. The team celebrated with a big team dinner on Friday prior to the meet and then by coming together as a team to make a tunnel for Chris to run through in celebration. “I thought it was so cool to be able to celebrate such a big milestone for Chris and for the team,” said freshman member of the team, Gionna Bean.
The Saints of the swim and dive team are proving themselves a force to be reckoned with. Even though they are a newly established team, making their debut during the 2021-2022 season, bettering themselves and breaking records with everything they do. “Since we’re a fairly new team, we’re still trying to make our mark in the sport, and it’s really exciting. There are so many records yet to be broken, and we’ve already broken a few in our first three meets,” said Bean.
The swim and dive team are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 26, competing against Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Mich. and then taking on Bethel University and Alma College in Elkhart, Ind. on Saturday Nov. 9.
Chloe Boivin, ready to dive into the competition – Photo by Aquinas College Athletics
Chloe Boivin poses for the camera – Image Courtesy of Aquinas College Athletics
The Saint 