By: William Burns, Sports Editor
On Friday, January 24th, The Saint Leo swim teams faced off against Rollins in their last home meet of the season. This meet was also the Lions Senior Meet, and friends and family came to see the athletes get recognized for their hard work and dedication. On the men’s team there were 11 seniors and seven on the women’s team. The pool deck was packed to see the action and all of the bleacher seating and tables were full to cheer on and support the members of the Saint Leo Swim Team.
The men’s team came into the meet ranked 23rd overall and dominated the Tars. The Lions won all but three of the events, including several one-two finishes. The Lady Lions were unranked coming into the meet. But still put a beating on the Tars, winning nine of the 14 events. The men won by a score of 169-93, and the women won 143-119.
The meet consisted of 28 events, 14 for the men and 14 for the women. The men’s team had six one-two finishes and even swept the podium in the 100-meter freestyle race. The women’s team pulled off two one-two finishes.
Top finishers for the men’s team included Hampus Lovinge, Christian Cioffi, Fridtjov Mork, Matthew Daniel and Michael Southward. Lovinge took first place in three individual events and was one leg of the winning 200 medley relay. Cioffi got an individual win and was part of two first place relays. Mork, Southward, and Cioffi were also the trio that got the podium sweep in the 100 freestyle. Southward was also on the winning relays. Daniel posted the only “B” standard of the day with a qualifying time in the 500 free event.
On the women’s side it was senior Annie Lindstrom that led the way. She took first in her two individual events as well as playing a valuable role in the two winning relays. Junior Paulina Majszutowicz was also part of a winning relay, and won two individual events, the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Sophomore Vittoria Bonsanti Feniello took first in two events as well, the 200 and 500 freestyle races.
The Lions will begin preparing for the final meet of the season, the Sunshine State Conference Championship meet on the weekend of Feb. 13-19 in Clearwater Florida. All qualifying swimmers will advance to the Nationals meet later on in the year.
