Men's Swimming and Diving | 2/19/2025 9:57:42 PM
WEBSTER, NY – Three Empire 8 records fell on day one of the 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship, held the Webster Aquatic Center on Wednesday, February 19. SUNY Geneseo holds the team lead after Wednesday’s action.
The nationally-ranked Knights have 285 team points to hold the lead over defending championship Hartwick College, who scored 141 points on opening night. Alfred University has 106 points, while Nazareth University has 81 and SUNY Brockport who has 76.
Hartwick’s Cameron Drake opened the evening by winning his second straight Empire 8 title in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 4:34.94.
From there SUNY Geneseo flexed its muscle, winning the final four events of the evening, while setting three Empire 8 Championship records.
Jordan Nielsen took the 50-yard freestyle in a 1-2-3 finish for the Knights, edging out Brian Pabisch and brother Jake Nielsen in a time of 20.44 seconds.
Griffin Merkling set his first of two meet records on the night, winning the 200-yard individual medley by just over a half a second over teammate Alex Palmer in a NCAA “B” cut qualifying time of 1:50.23. Palmer also broke the previous league record of 1:51.96 set by Alex Lapoint of Nazareth in 2017.
Geneseo’s 400-yard medley relay team of Merkling, Jake Nielsen, Connor Baird and Jordan Nielsen rolled to a nearly seven second win in a championship record time of 3:21.01, shattering a 10-year old record previously set by Stevens by two-tenths of a second.
Geneseo diver Trent Makowiec shattered an 11-year old NCAA record previously held by All-American Matt Morrison in the 3-meter diving event, finishing with a score of 614.80. Teammate Greg Meder was second with an impressive score of 546.90.
Wednesday’s Finals Results
500-yard freestyle – Cameron Drake, Hartwick – 4:34.94
200-yard individual medley – Griffin Merkling, SUNY Geneseo – 1:50.23
– Empire 8 Championship Record, NCAA “B” Cut
50-yard freestyle – Jordan Nielsen, SUNY Geneseo – :20.44
3-meter diving – Trent Makowiec, SUNY Geneseo – 614.80 –
Empire 8 Championship Record
400-yard medley relay – Griffin Merkling, Jake Nielsen, Connor Baird, Jordan Nielsen, SUNY Geneseo – 3:21.01
– Empire 8 Championship Record
2025 Empire 8 Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship Team Scores
SUNY Geneseo – 285
Hartwick – 141
Alfred – 106
Nazareth – 81
SUNY Brockport – 76
Day two action begins with the prelims at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Day two finals events begin at 5:30 p.m.
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