Submitted by Dominick Delello, Saint Michael’s College.
(January 16, 2019) — COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Saint Michael’s College swimming & diving teams landed four student-athletes on the Northeast-10 Conference Weekly Honor Roll for the week ending Sunday, Jan. 13. Junior Connor Hopkins (Windham, N.H./Windham) and first-year William Sullivan (Arlington, Va./Bishop O’Connell) hailed from the men’s team, while seniors Tess Grimaldi (Higganum, Conn./Haddam-Killingworth) and Patty Kohn (Weston, Conn./Greenwich) were chosen on the women’s side.
Hopkins earned five wins among seven top-two showings during a 1-1 week for the men. In a 203-90 loss to Bentley University on Thursday, he won the 50-yard backstroke (25.40) and 50-yard freestyle (22.17) while anchoring the top 200 free relay (1:32.78) and taking second during the 100 free (50.49). During a 123.5-113.5 victory against the State University of New York at Potsdam on Saturday, Hopkins took the 100 free (49.57), led off for the top 200-yard medley relay (1:42.39), and placed second during the 200 free (1:53.89). His opening 50 back (25.33) in the 200 medley was the seventh-fastest in the NE10 this winter. Hopkins leads the men’s squad in overall (18), individual (10) and relay (8) victories this year.
Sullivan won four times across two meets, including swimming a key leg during a comeback relay victory that clinched the team win in the SUNY Potsdam meet’s final event. Against Bentley, he was part of the winning 200 free relay (1:32.78) while placing third in the 50 free (23.23) and fifth in the 50-yard butterfly (26.65) and 100 free (53.29). Against SUNY Potsdam, Sullivan won the 50 free (23.57) by 0.05 seconds for his initial individual collegiate triumph while anchoring the winning 200 medley relay (1:42.39). With his team clinging to a five-point lead and needing to win the last event – the 200 free relay – Sullivan overcame a 0.11-second deficit upon entering the water for the third leg before handing a teammate a 0.61-second lead en route to the victory (1:32.97). For the year, Sullivan has eight victories, including seven during relay races.
Grimaldi had three wins among seven top-three showings during a 1-1 week. In Thursday’s 223-50 loss meet against Bentley University, Grimaldi won the 50 free (26.64) while anchoring the runner-up 200 free relay (1:50.24) and 200 medley relay (2:02.54). She took third in the 50 fly (29.46). During Saturday’s 119-102 win over SUNY Potsdam, she won the 50 free (26.67) by 0.07 seconds while aiding relay victories in the 200 free (1:47.21) and 200 medley (1:59.21). Grimaldi has career highs in individual (3), relay (8) and total (11) wins this season.
Kohn won three events among seven top-three finishes last week. Against Bentley, she was second in the 200 free relay (1:50.24) and 200 medley relay (2:02.54), swimming leadoff in the latter, while placing third in the 500 free (5:39.97) and 1,000 free (11:54.22). Versus SUNY Potsdam, Kohn won the 500 free (5:32.26) and 1,000 free (11:26.60) while anchoring the winning 200 free relay (1:47.21). She leads the Purple Knights with 13 solo wins and 21 total victories, matching her career high in individual triumphs. Kohn heads into the week with 85 career wins, including 50 during individual races.
