The Fordham women’s swimming and diving team is currently 8-1, while the men’s team is currently 3-4. Casey Chun/The Fordham Ram
By Drew Casey
After a training trip to Barbados during the winter break, the Fordham swimming and diving team jumped right back into action this past weekend with two meets at the Colonel Francis B. Messmore Aquatics Center.
On Friday afternoon, the women’s side took down Iona 140-82, winning all 13 events, while the men’s squad defeated the Gaels 137-92.
Less than 24 hours later, the women’s team picked up a pair of victories, dominating La Salle 218-81 and edging Richmond 159-140. The men’s side fell to La Salle 177-121. The women’s team finished the weekend 3-0, while the men’s team was 1-1.
Of the three meet victories for the women’s squad, the Richmond victory especially stood out. Richmond has dominated Atlantic 10 women’s swimming recently, having won eight of the last nine championships. Last year, Fordham was closest to breaking its dominance, finishing second at the Atlantic 10 Championship.
“Beating Richmond is a huge confidence boost and very exciting for our team,” senior captain Savannah Coe said. “Beating them in a dual meet shows that we are in a good position to give them a run for their money at A-10s.”
Sophomore Kalena Laurent led the way for the women’s side, winning four individual events over the two meets. The Everett, Washington, native collected victories in the 200yd butterfly and 1000yd freestyle on Friday, and touched first in both the 200yd and 500yd freestyle on Saturday.
Sophomore Megan Polaha also shone for the women’s team, winning three events on Saturday. She was quickest in both the 100yd and 200yd butterfly, and in the 200yd individual medley. Her time of 55.51 seconds in the 100yd butterfly set a new season-best time for the event.
Junior Shannon Lulley was another top performer for the Rams. The Smithtown, New York, native finished first in the 200yd individual medley against Iona, and won both the 50yd and 100yd freestyle on Saturday. The weekend was a good test according to Lulley, even though the team swam 58 events in 24 hours.
“Racing in two meets in 24 hours is not an easy thing to do,” Lulley said. “Although it’s hard, it paints a picture of what A-10s is going to be like, where we are racing in the morning and at night for three days straight.”
On the men’s side, junior Steve Sholdra led the way, speeding past the field in five individual events. Sholdra took the 200yd individual medley and 200yd breaststroke on Friday, and was first in the 500yd freestyle, 1000yd freestyle and 200yd butterfly against La Salle. Sholdra was also part of a winning relay team in each of the two meets.
“Going seven for seven was really amazing,” Sholdra said. “It’s such a fun feeling to just go out in every race and perform at your own personal top speed.”
The team is next in action on Saturday, Jan. 31, when both the women’s and men’s squads host Massachusetts. The Atlantic 10 Championship begins on Feb. 18 in Geneva, Ohio.
“We have put in the work all season, building a solid foundation that will take us into conference prepared on a physical level,” Laurent said. “What we need to work on in the next month is mentally placing ourselves up for success.”
