Lehigh Falls to Seton Hall: A Tough Road Challenge for Lehigh University Athletics

Lehigh’s men’s swimming and diving team faced off against Seton Hall on the road and experienced a tough loss, with the final score at 155-85.

The meet kicked off with diving events. Graduate student Jack Grotke stood out, securing fourth place in both the three-meter and one-meter dives, scoring 163.27 and 177.45 points, respectively.

In the swimming events, Lehigh found success in several races. They swept the podium in the 1000-yard freestyle, led by senior Alfredo Figueroa Sedano, who clocked in at 9:57.81. Sophomore Will Pestrichelli was right behind him at 9:57.86, followed by first-year swimmer Christian McAuley with a time of 10:08.99.

Senior Ben Kisker showcased his skills by winning the 100-yard backstroke in 51.28 seconds. Sophomore Chase Bearley also made waves, leading the 50-yard freestyle with a strong showing at 21.24 seconds.

Several first-years had notable finishes too. Spencer Ridge narrowly missed first place in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in 59.64 seconds, while TJ Hayes claimed second place in the 500-yard freestyle at 4:44.98, closely followed by Jake Greenleaf, who took third with a time of 4:45.70. Greenleaf also earned third in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:43.76.

In the 100-yard freestyle, Jared Rabadam and Bearley finished second and third, respectively, at 51.43 and 52.66 seconds. Additionally, first-year Andrew Takach placed third in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:58.50.

Looking ahead, the Mountain Hawks will compete at home next against Lafayette on November 21 at Jacobs Pool. This event will be part of The Rivalry, proudly supported by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, part of Jefferson Health.

As the sport evolves, many teams, including Lehigh, are putting a focus on conditioning and technique to improve their performance. According to a recent survey by USA Swimming, over 70% of swimmers believe that mental preparation is just as important as physical training.

Embracing this holistic approach could give a competitive edge to teams like Lehigh as they prepare for the remainder of the season and beyond.



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