TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's and women's swimming and diving teams earned a split against Hartwick College on Sunday at Robison Pool. The Engineers men won by a 123-118 margin, while the Hawks women were victorious, 152-90. Leading the way for RPI was sophomore Ben LeRose, who swam to victory in three events.

LeRose (Williamsburg, VA/Lafayette) picked up where he left off from yesterday's win at Vassar with three wins in today's victory over Hartwick. He won the 200-butterfly (2:02.51) and also claimed a win in the 200-individual medley (2:02.92). Additionally, he helped the 200-medley relay team to a win with a time of 1:39.24. 

Other members of the 200-medley relay squad included senior captain Alex Updegrove (Carson City, NV/Carson), classmate Julian Schott (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) and junior captain Luke Flanagan (Old Bethpage, NY/Plainview-Old Bethpage-JFK).

Schott also helped the 200-freestyle relay team to a win with a time of 1:29.88. He was aided by junior Chris Hall (Villanova, PA/Friends' Central School), freshman Maruti Kolluru (Berwyn, PA/Conestoga Senior) and senior Brandon McDowell (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac).

Junior Alex Rohr (Rexford, NY/Niskayuna) also had a solid outing, winning the 200-breaststroke (2:16.46), while posting second-place finishes in two other events. It was another clean sweep in the diving events for the Engineers as freshman Miguel Hummel (Pittsburgh, PA/Fordham Prep) and sophomore Ryan MacDonald (Hamden, CT/Notre Dame HS) each claimed victory.

Hummel came into today's meet having won off both boards in each of the first three meets, and picked up his fourth straight win off the 1-meter board with a score of 260.17 points. He also placed second in the 3-meter event (222.72 points).  MacDonald won off the 3-meter board with 223.05 points and placed third off the 1-meter with 227.25 points.

On the women's side, the Hawks dominated across the board as three different swimmers posted at least two victories, including three from Robyn Smith. The Engineers did see a number of solid efforts on the afternoon, led by senior captain Grace Fitzgerald (Manchester, NH/Manchester), who won both diving events. She had a score of 206.77 points to win the 1-meter and 220.12 points for the victory off the 3-meter board.

Sophomore Tina Belletete (Winchendon, MA/Gardner) won the 500-freestyle (5:28.86), while classmate Mairead Lyons (Leominster, MA/Notre Dame) was victorious in the 200-fly (2:15.56).

Both squads are now idle until December 3 and 4, when they compete in the 2010 Liberty League Championships, hosted by Union College. Action begins on the Friday (Dec. 3) at 4pm. Session II will begin on Saturday (Dec. 4) at 9am and Session III will mark the conclusion of the meet, beginning at 4pm. Diving events will be held at Robison Pool.

Hartwick is back in the pool on Saturday, competing at Hamilton in a four-team invite (12pm).