ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University men's swimming & diving team loss to Ithaca College, 106-192 on Saturday afternoon in the McLane Natatorium to put a close to the regular season of 2019-20 before beginning its month-long taper.
 
The Saxons got things started on the day as they recognized the four-year career of their lone senior captain, Andy Edmister (Belmont, NY/Genesee Valley Central) in pre-race ceremonies, first with an introduction from Head Coach Brian Striker '00 and then a "Final Length" in which each year, Saxon seniors take a fun start from the blocks to the sound of applause as they swim 25 yards. Edmister pulled a surprise move, however, taking a direct line to the diving well where he climbed out, and hopped in the Saxon hot tub, with a smile. "It was great to see Andy [Edmister] finish his final meet with two victories in his individual races. Not only that, but to see him win close races against a great team. He showed a lot of heart at the end of his races to win both. I look forward to resting him and the rest of the team and having a great championship meet."
 
Once Senior Day events calmed down and the official races began, AU picked up an early two-three finish in the 200 medley relay with the team of Edmister, Colin Schultz (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport), Vincent Tamplain (Luling, LA/Hahnsville) and Ryan Brown (Olean, NY/Olean) leading the way for a time of 1:40.45. The team of Phillip Volaski (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), Tyler Kemmet (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville), Justin Chadima (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) and Yunneng Du (Yorktown, VA/Tabb) followed with a 1:44.44.
 
Noah Koltenuk (Danville, PA/Danville Area) and Du finished second and third in the 200 freestyle following the relay and the men's 1,000-yard freestyle. Koltenuk swam a 1:50.54 while Du followed with a 1:54.17. Koltenuk was edged at the finish line by the Ithaca time of 1:50.26.
 
Senior Edmister was the only Saxon to pick up a pair of wins on the day as he won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:01.37 and the 200 back with a time of 1:58.00. Volaski was right behind Edmister in the 100 backstroke for a second place finish of 55.19.
 
Following the 100-yard backstroke was the 100-yard breaststroke in which a pair of Saxons finished two-three. Justin Jarmer (Flagstaff, AZ/Northland Preparatory Academy) swam a 1:03.41 and was immediately followed by Schultz's time of 1:03.67. Brown was the next top finisher for the Saxons in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.57, good enough for second place.
 
Volaski competed in the 200-yard breaststroke in which he had a come-from-behind finish to win the event with a time of 2:18.64, defeated the rest of the pool by almost a full second. Koltenuk picked up a second place finish in the 500 free with a time of 5:00.00 to round out the top individual finishes on the day.
 
The 200 free relay team of Edmister, Luke Foery (York, PA/West York), Jarmer and Tamplain finished second with a time of 1:33.05 to close the meet and the dual-meet schedule.