Swim Team Delivers on Senior Day

By Maxime Devillaz
Assistant Sports Editor

After having spent a week away on the Bahamas for preseason, the LIU Post swim team was back to keep up their great record in the regular season. The team kicked off their final stretch with Senior Day, a special occasion in many ways. The day is a tribute to the seniors on the team for their last appearance at home. The squad spent time decorating the walls of the Pratt natatorium for the big day on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Many came out to support the Pioneers in their second to last meet of the regular season, facing the Purple Knights from Bridgeport. “We had a big crowd, including both parents and alumni, which was a nice change, and the support meant a lot to the team”, sophomore Seren Jones said.

The green machine definitely took advantage of the sentimental ambiance surrounding the event by winning eight of 11 meets, scoring four new top-five times, one team record, and four pool records.

Megan Brazier, a sophomore, led the way to victory. Brazier had a hand in four event wins, two individual and two relays. Her impressive 100-yard backstroke race gave way to a new pool record, and was the fourth best time in school history. She managed to notch a ’B’ cut time of 56:97.

It was a special day to remember for the team, and Jones was pleased. ”We did very well, and we were happy that the seniors’ send off was so successful. They’ve contributed so much to our team it was important that they got their recognition,” Jones added.

Jones mentioned that there were two seniors, who have been swimming for four years at Post. “Chelcee Hew and Tamara Garriock are the first girls in four years to complete a whole four-year collegiate swimming”, she said.

The team’s success on Senior Day allowed them to keep their standing in the national rankings. The College Swimming Coaches Association of America summed up the month of January by releasing its final NCAA Div. II rankings of the 2013-14 season on Friday, 31, and the Pioneers remained 11th.

With a perfect month behind them, the green and gold headed to the East Stroudsbourg Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 1, to close up their regular season. In a continous winning strive, the Pioneers overwhelmed their opponents by winning nine out of 16 meets. Senior Tamara Garriock was eager to finish her regular college career in success, and scored 2 individual wins. The Pioneers also placed top two in the two relays of this afternoon.

With a perfect 2014 record, and 9-1 overall, the Pioneers are heading into postseason for the important meets, starting with the Metropolitan Conference Championships at Rutgers in Pistachaway, N.J. on Feb. 15-17.