This one was for the seniors.

Six seniors – five Syracuse swimmers and a diver – competed for the final time in Webster Pool on Saturday, and the results were just what they had hoped for. Both the men’s and women’s teams topped West Virginia, with scores of 132-94 and 134-110, respectively.

With the wins, the SU women remained perfect all time against WVU at 7-0 and improved their 2003-04 dual-meet record to 2-2. The Orangemen are 3-1.

After the pair of wins, head coach Lou Walker stressed the importance of steady improvement, a strong overall meet and good times going into the toughest part of the season.

Though Walker said Saturday’s was just another meet, the seniors felt differently.

‘It set in this morning,’ senior swimmer Spencer Raymond said, ‘This one was special, and I’m glad we swam well.’

Raymond said he wished to improve his personal performance – he finished third in the 50-yard freestyle (21.60) and swam the fourth leg of the 400-yard medley relay, in which SU finished first – but was excited for the underclassmen and about the team’s attitude.

‘My freshman year was probably the most talented team I’ve ever been on,’ Spencer said, ‘but this is definitely the most enthusiastic, fun team I have ever been a part of. We know we have to work together. What makes us special is our depth and that we don’t have to rely on any specific individuals.’

Beginning with the diving competition, Syracuse took control. Senior Ricky Rodriguez said goodbye to Webster Pool with second-place finishes in both the 1 meter (226.80) and 3 meter (255.30) boards. Sophomore Dewey Shultz won both events with scores of 242.62 and 264.08, respectively.

In the pool, meanwhile, the women dominated. Syracuse posted first-place finishes in nine of 11 swimming events. Seniors Elyse McDonough, who won three events, and Kalei Mahi, who won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:23:11, led SU. McDonough won the 200-yard IM (1:56.20), 200-yard butterfly (2:05.46) and swam the third leg of the women’s 400-yard medley relay team (3:56.52), en route to victory. Mahi also swam in the 400-yard medley victory.

While the seniors gave major contributions throughout the day, the men’s team’s underclassmen ensured victory. Syracuse appeared in control throughout, but after leading for the entire meet, Syracuse trailed the Mountaineers, 78-72.

SU sophomore Bobby Schelling responded. Schelling posted a personal best time of 1:52.54 to win the 200-yard backstroke. Sophomore Rob Persico (1:56.02) and junior Gustavo Kertzscher (1:56.04) followed Schelling. The sweep in the event shifted the momentum and gave SU a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

‘I think that event was big,’ Schelling said. ‘This was my best in-season time since I’ve been here, and that’s a direct result of the training.’

Schelling had a strong overall meet, finishing second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.26) and swimming the first leg of the 400-yard medley relay, an event the Orangemen won in a time of 3:27.10.

‘We hit a rough stretch in the middle, focused and came through,’ Walker said. ‘The 200 (backstroke) put it over the hump for us.

‘I’m pretty excited. The kids are coming along. We are in a very good spot right now. A year ago we lost to St. Bonaventure and West Virginia. This year we beat both those teams, and that goes to show how much we have improved.’

Published on January 19, 2004 at 12:00 pm