Amherst swim team defeat Lake Shore, lose against Iroquois

Amherst's varsity girls swimming team defeated Lake Shore, 128-47, for their second win of the season last Tuesday, Oct. 2. The Lady Tigers won every event in the meet.

"I thought halfway through the meet that we had a chance to win them all," said coach Kim Skomra.

"We mixed up the lineup and were still able to pull it off," added coach Deb Sullivan.

Double winners included Michelle Niblock in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly, Eva Lankes (200 individual medley, 100 backstroke) and Ellie Poleon (200, 500 free), all in sectional qualifying times. Kaelyn Sullivan (100 free), Allie Bauer (100 breast) and Sarah Masters (1-meter diving) also won events.

Personal-best times were recorded by Joanna Bardak (100 free) and Larissa Kumm (100 back), both in ECIC qualifying times. Miranda Jacobi hit a personal best in the 50 free.

The Lady Tigers didn't fare as well against Iroquois, in a hard-fought 58-43 loss last Friday.

"We knew Iroquois would be a tough opponent and they found a way to win," said Skomra. "We won five of the first six events, but it wasn't enough."

The highlight of the meet for Amherst was Masters' pool record in diving.

"It was a 20-year-old record, and Sarah dove the best she has all season," said Sullivan. "That should give her confidence for the rest of the season." The meet's only double winner for Amherst was Michelle Niblock in the 200 IM in a personal-best time and the 100 fly. Eva Lankes won the 50 free before suffering a leg cramp, negating any chance in the 100 back.

"These things happen; she got the cramp in the 200 free relay and still managed to swim the backstroke, which was a gutsy swim," said Sullivan. "Unfortunately, she wasn't able to compete at a level where she normally would have. Iroquois took advantage of the situation and won first and second."

Sullivan pulled out a big win in the 100 free in a sectional qualifying and personal-best time. Kumm improved her 100 back time, and Jacobi swam her personal best in the 50 free. The 200 medley and 200 free relay teams of Lankes, Sullivan, Poleon and Niblock remain undefeated.