Athletics transition: Winter teams wind up, spring season gets under way
Women’s tennis opened its spring schedule with an 8-1 win against Swarthmore College. Madeline Benn ’17 cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win at number-three singles and teamed with Lee Ford ’14 for an 8-1 win at number-one doubles. Melissa Hirsch ’14 also picked up a pair of wins, defeating Gayatri Iyengar 6-1, 6-1 in number-two singles and combining with Zoe Valella ’15 for an 8-3 win in number-three doubles. The 20th-ranked Thoroughbreds host Vassar College at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at the Wilton YMCA.
Riding posted its second win of the spring, scoring 45 out of a possible 49 points. Katelyn Stephenson ’17 and Helen Kirk ’17 pushed the team into first with wins in walk-trot-canter and walk-trot. Ursala Green ’16 and Jessica Stoukides ’16 also contributed key points, winning their sections of open and novices over fences, respectively. The team will participate Saturday, March 1, at the Hartwick College Show, Saturday.
Men’s basketball clinched a playoff berth with an 84-68 win against Union College Friday night. Erik Sanders ’16 scored a game-high 28 points and seven rebounds, and Connor Merrill ’15 chipped in 19 points and four blocks. The Thoroughbreds (16-9, 10-6 Liberty) dropped their final contest of the season, 91-87, Saturday against RIT. Tanner Brooks ’16 tallied a season-high 38 points, going 7-10 from the floor and a perfect 9-9 from the free-throw line. Aldin Medunjanin ’16 just missed a triple-double with 17 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. The team travels to Vassar College Wednesday, Feb. 26, for the Liberty League semifinal.
Women’s basketball also split the final two games of its season, falling at Union College before downing RIT on Saturday. Jordyn Wartts ’14 led the Thoroughbreds against the Dutchwomen, scoring 26 points and adding 10 rebounds in a 75-69 loss. Angela Botiba ’15 also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 boards. Wartts was dominant in her final collegiate game, tallying a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, propelling the team to a 75-51 win against the Tigers. Botiba produced her 13th double-double of the season with 16 points and 16 rebounds. The Thoroughbreds ended the season with an overall record of 11-14, going 6-10 in the Liberty League.
Men’s and women’s swimming and diving concluded its season at the UNYSCSA championships, hosted at Ithaca College. The men’s team placed 11th with 318.50 points, while the women finished 12th with 267 points. The team broke a total of 11 school records over the four days of competition. Nick Sauerbrunn ’15 established a new Skidmore record in the 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 4:48.66. On the women’s side, Yookee Roh ’16 had record-setting times in the 200 Yard IM (2:14.43) and the 400 Yard IM (4:43.29). Roh also teamed with Erin Donovan ’17, Jessica Sandberg ’17 and Sarah Shaw ’14 for a record time in the 200 Yard Medley Relay (1:53.57).
Men’s hockey season came to a close with a loss to Norwich University in the ECAC Men’s East quarterfinals. Jack McDonald ’17 stopped 32 shots in goal and Ben Freiberg ’16 made eight saves in relief. McDonald and Anthony Bird ’17 were both selected to the ECAC Men’s East All-Rookie Team, while senior captain Brad Schuler ’14 earned ECAC Men’s East Honorable Mention. ~ By Dan St. Jacques
