Harvard Returns to Winning Form Versus Lions

The Harvard men’s swimming and diving team gave returning alumni something to cheer about on Friday night at Blodgett pool, as the team swam to a 171-127 triumph over the visiting Columbia Lions. The victory marked a strong rebound from a disappointing loss to Cornell last weekend, and was particularly sweet for a team that incurred its first loss in two years against Columbia in 2005.

“It’s always nice to beat a team that dismantled you in years past,” co-captain Jason Degnan-Rojeski said. “Last year, we weren’t expecting to lose at all, so the loss to Columbia definitely came as a blow.”

Harvard won 10 of 16 events, including both relays, to improve its record to 3-1 overall, while Columbia dropped to 1-2 on the season. Top swimmers once again led the way for the Crimson, as Degnan-Rojeski, juniors Sam Wollner and Geoff Rathgeber, and sophomore Dan Jones each captured two individual events.

“Dual meets are important to win,” Degnan-Rojeski said. “This year it’s been great to see [these swimmers] win pretty much all of their events against top guys from other schools.”

The competition opened, however, with a critical team win for Harvard in a tight 200-medley relay. Rathgeber, freshman Simone Melillo, sophomore Bill Jones, and junior Pat Quinn each swam a leg in the nail-biter, as the Crimson edged out Columbia 1:32.46 to 1:33.92.

Harvard added to its lead considerably in the 1000 freestyle, as Wollner finished first at 9:28.18, with teammates Mason Brunnick and Eric Lynch close behind.

Columbia’s Kevin Wakefield beat Bill Jones to the wall in the 200 free, but the Lions could not keep up with the Crimson in the next three events. Degnan-Rojeski and Quinn went 1-2 in the 100 backstroke, with Degnan-Rojeski finishing in first, 51.59 to 51.63. Rathgeber then turned in a solid performance in the 100 breaststroke, as he finished in 56.36 to best the rest of the field by almost two seconds. Dan Jones looked strong in the 200 fly, taking the race in 1:51.40 to notch his first of two wins in the butterfly events.

It was then Columbia’s turn to put together a string of first-place finishes. Tobin White sparked the streak for the Lions with a win in the 50 free and Justin Reardon followed suit with a 299.10-point performance in the 1-meter dive, easily taking the event.

White then rounded out the performance with a second victory in the 100 free.

Degnan-Rojeski regained momentum for Harvard with a 1:52.96 winning effort in the 200 backstroke. From there, the Crimson hardly looked back. Rathgeber used a strong final 50 yards to capture the 200 breaststroke in 2:04.13, Wollner took the 500 free in 4:34.59 and Dan Jones, in one of the most exciting events of the night, beat his twin brother Bill to the wall, winning the 100 fly in 49.86.

The meet ended with a flourish, as the crowd cheered the Crimson to victory in the 400 freestyle relay. Rathgeber and freshman Dan Furman swam the first two legs for Harvard, dropping the team behind Columbia by about an arm’s length. Bill Jones swam a critical third leg, however, pulling up on Columbia by the first turn and giving his team the lead entering the final leg. With the crowd behind him, Quinn swam a fast 45.48 anchor to edge out Columbia, 3:04.50 to 3:05.00, and put the finishing touches on a solid showing for the Crimson.

“Relays are obviously important because they’re worth more points,” Degnan-Rojeski said. “They really take a team effort, though, which always makes them a bit sweeter than individual victories.”

The Harvard men’s swimming and diving team will next travel to Athens, Ga. on Dec. 1-3 to compete in the Georgia Invitational and will resume dual-meet action on Jan. 5 against Rutgers.