ALTOONA, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College swimming and diving programs opened the 2023-24 season Friday evening at Penn State Altoona.
The Presidents fell by a 186-82 score on the men's side. W&J dropped the women's portion by a 151-82 score.
Leading the way for the women's team was
Luna Balzano (El Portal, Fla. / Broward Virtual School), who impressed in her debut in the Red and Black. Balzano posted a pair of individual first place finishes. She was first in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 1:04.55 and took the top spot in the 500 Butterfly with a time of 28.16.
Balzano teamed with
Rylee Mitchell (Milan, Mich. / Milan),
Sophia Garrett (Cincinnati, Ohio / Saint Ursula Academy) and
Amanda Graves (Irwin, Pa. / Penn Trafford) to finish first in the 200 Free Relay. The group posted a top time of 1:47.27.
Maddie Malone (Charlottesville, Va. / Monticello) narrowly missed taking the top spot in the 100 Breaststroke, as she finished second with a time of 1:18.71. Malone was second in the 50 Breaststroke, touching the wall at 36.52.
Garrett logged a time of 58.64 to place second in the 100 Free and finished second in the 50 Free at 27.10.
Graves finished as runner-up in the 100 Back with a time of 1:08.84.
Taylor Newton (Olyphant, Pa. / Scranton Prep) finished second in the 200 Free with a time of 2:13.32.
Garrett, Malone, Graves and Balzano finished as runner-up in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 2:00.52
Logan Marks (West Mifflin, Pa. / West Mifflin) earned a pair of first place finishes for the W&J men. Marks timed in at 1:54.14 in the 200 Free and 1:01.76 in the 100 Breaststroke. Marks added a third place effort in the 200 IM at 2:09.22.
Daniel Jeffries (Irwin, Pa. / Hempfield Area) claimed the top time in the 100 Back at 58.04.
Nathaniel Harden (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield Area), another newcomer, finished second in the 50 Breaststroke with a time of 28.75.
Will Angus (Grafton, W.Va. / Grafton) was third in the 50 Fly with a time of 27.06 and third in the 100 Fly at 1:02.65.
W&J returns to competition with the home opener on Friday, Oct. 20. The Presidents will welcome Allegheny and Wheeling to the Henry Memorial Natatorium. Start time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
