Utica, NY – The Utica College men and women's swim and dive team returns to action after winter break by hosting Alfred University for a dual meet on Friday. The first swim meet of the 2019 calendar year is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
 
Shaking off the Rust: Friday's meet will be the first set of competition for the Pioneers in over a month. The team last competed on November 30^th in a dual meet against Cazenovia on the road. Both the men (142-36) and women (142-90) walked away with a win, ending the fall semester on a good note.
 
Some Early Highlights: When the teams headed to Skidmore College to compete, TJ Tellekamp rewrote history by setting a new school-record. He swam a time of 21.86 to set the record and place first in the 50-yard freestyle event. Rebecca Merrill (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) scored 27 points for the team as she swept her individual events against Cazenovia, placing first in the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly, and the 200-yard backstroke. Daniel Angotti matched Merrill at the Cazenovia meet, as he earned first place finishes in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard medley relay, and the 200-yard freestyle relay. Early in November the Pioneers welcomed Roberts Wesleyan, Cazenovia, and HCCC to compete in a quad meet where both the men and the women came away with wins over the entire field of competing schools.
 
Remaining Schedule: Utica has just four meets remaining before the Empire 8 Championships get underway. Including Friday's competition with Alfred, the team will host three dual meets in the month of January. UC will then travel to Clarkson University on February 2^nd for its final preparation before E8's. The conference championship meet will be held in Webster, NY starting on February 20^th.
 
Scouting Alfred: The Saxons have had a long break between competitions as well, last participating at the Ithaca College Invitational that ended on December 2^nd. Both the men and women of Alfred placed 10^th among the field of 11 schools at the meet. The men have pulled out wins over Fredonia and Pittsburgh Bradford, while the women have just the one win over Pittsburgh Bradford.
 
Looking Ahead: UC will host Nazareth College next, as the two teams will compete in a dual meet on January 19^th. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. that Saturday.