2009-10 Season in Review

Panthers Come in 2nd at Championships
Muller, Brothers Earn All-Skyline Honors

Purchase, NY (Feb. 15, 2010) – The Purchase College women’s swim team valiantly defended its Skyline Conference title in 2009-10, finishing second at the annual league championships in early February.

The Panthers finished second to Mount Saint Mary in the regular season – a year after topping the Blue Knights in both the regular season and tournament titles – and would later finish second at championships, as the two continue their bitter rivalry in the pool.   

Despite losing some key members from last season’s championship, a young squad that included a few core members from the title team helped Purchase regain its dominant form in the Skyline Conference this year. Purchase went 4-1 in league play and 6-3 overall before a strong finish at championships.

[Pictured above: ALL-SKYLINE SELECTION CHRISTINA MULLER.
-Photo by Oren Vourman] 

Looking for its second straight tournament crown, Purchase ran into a deep Mount St. Mary squad, who used their depth to take the title back to Newburgh in a 121.5-90 victory over the host Panthers on Feb. 6.

The Panthers took home two first place finishes, both of them by Christina Muller, who stole the 50-yard freestyle from the Blue Knights’ Jamie Testa, edging her out, 27.30-28.27. She would also win the 100 freestyle, finishing in a time of 59.88.

Muller and senior Jessica Brothers would garner All-Skyline honors at championships.

Newcomers Morgan Anderson, Michelle Friedman, Tanya Marshall , Patricia Fazzino, Katherine Abrams and two-sport athletes Danielle Sweeny and Carly Turow enjoyed fine first seasons for the Panthers, while returners Brothers, Kaitlyn Raitz, Emily Cohen, Kate Hallex, Laura Mangino, Tatyana de Muns and Alexandra Riley-Murphy comprised an important core for Purchase. 

The Panthers dominated in their two home meets, downing CMSV 118-67 and overwhelming Sarah Lawrence 111-86 in November. They also sparkled in Skyline victories over Old Westbury, SUNY Maritime and St. Joseph’s College-LI.

The future remains bright for Purchase, who graduates four seniors, but returns a solid group of underclassmen for 2010-11. The Panthers have won one title and finished second twice the last three seasons.

-Bobby Ciafardini, SID

2009-10 Recaps:
Defending Champs Take 2nd at Skylines
WestConn Edges Purchase
With Win at SJC, Panthers Lockup 2nd Place
Return to Dominance: Panthers Crush Old Westbury
Tune-Up for Conference Sched with ECACs, WP
Panthers Keep Rolling, Earn Fourth Win
Panthers Victorious on Senior Day
Panthers Return to Form at Maritime
Blue Knights Edge Panthers
Dominant Performance Kick Starts '09 Season

2009-10 News:
Raitz Garners Honor Roll Mention
Swim Team Lends Helping Hands in Time of Tragedy 
Fazzino Named Rookie of the Week
Felice Named Rookie of the Week

Home Meets Indicated in BOLD CAPS
* Skyline Conference Meet

2008-09 Season in Review

A New Ending: Panthers Win Skyline, HVWAC Titles

Purchase, NY (Feb. 13, 2009) – Every team starts off the season with the same mantra more or less, and it sounds a bit like this: "This year is our year," or, "the time is now."

Coming into the 2008-09 season, the Purchase College women’s swim team was feeling exactly the same way, and unlike the rest of their opponents, for the Panthers, it really was "their time."

Flashback to the 2008 Skyline Conference championships at Purchase. The undefeated Panthers, the same regular season Skyline champs, not to mention the reigning Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference title holder found themselves in an enviable situation, they were favored to win their first Skyline crown.

They were ready to prove that Purchase College was not only a school for the arts and humanities, where students took their gifted artistic visions and academics seriously, but also a place where, well, yeah they play sports and actually win in it, too.

The 2008 Skyline Tournament was a statement meet, only Purchase made one that they didn’t quite mean to. They did not have in mind the tag of 2008 runner-up, but it happened anyway in a close contest that saw them drop to Mount Saint Mary by a measly six points.

What is six points anyway? It’s not even the amount of points given to one first place finish. No matter.

The 2008-09 season would be a new one, another chance for Purchase to prove that they were indeed the best.

Right from the start the Panthers showed they were all business garnering a record of 8-0 overall and out-scoring their opponents by a margin of 948-596. Only once in those eight meets did they fail to score under 100 points, and before winter break they were already crowned as the 2008 HWVAC champions.

The glorious season, (and for all who were there to witness it, that is surely what they called it) did not end in mid-December. One more win was in store for Purchase, a 132-73 thrashing of St. Joseph’s- L.I., and by early February, the Panthers were all grown up, ready to avenge their second place finish in last year's Skyline tourney.

Purchase was already the regular season winners, that’s what a "Purrfect" 5-0 record will do for you.

Finally, in a packed field of six teams, the Panthers emerged victorious, topping St. Joseph’s for the second time, 132-84. Both head coach Peter Nestel and assistant coach George Eversmann were pushed into the pool, the celebration had begun.

It will probably take some time to soak in the accomplishments of one of the best teams in the history of Purchase athletics.

The same team that won their second consecutive team Sportsmanship Award, with coach Nestel winning his first Skyline Conference Coach of the Year award.

A special season indeed had its own unique markings. No team had ever won an NCAA conference tournament. No team had ever had the same mix of talent, skill, heart and determination that the aqua Panthers had shown on their ascent to the top.

Senior standout Kimberly Garrett, who had victored in over 70 straight races over a three year period, won two more at championships. Patricia "Pudge" Orellana, Jessica Brothers and star rookie Kaitlyn Raitz also shined in the finals, helping the Panthers author a championship ending in 2009.  

-Oren Vourman

2008-09 Recaps:
Hail to the Champs: Panthers Win Skyline Crown
Four Honored on Senior Day
Panthers Take Third in Tri-Meet
Sky's the Limit: PC Wins Skyline Regular Season Title
Repeat Offenders: Panthers Defend HVWAC Title
Purchase Too Much for Old Westbury
Panthers Shine at ECACs
Lucky 7s: Panthers Roll to Seventh Straight Win
Panthers Repeat as HVWAC Champs 
Streaking Panthers Roll to 5-0
Short-handed Panthers Steamroll CSE
Panthers Shutdown Rival Mt. St. Mary
Queens of the Sea: Purchase Sinks Maritime
Defending HVWAC Champs Off to Another Great Start

2008-09 News: 
Play that Tune: Cello, Swimming, Raitz Does it All
Raitz Wins Rookie of the Week; Garrett Honor Roll
Garrett Ends First Half with Swimmer of the Week
Back-to-Back Skyline Honors for Garrett
Clean Sweep of Honors for Garrett in Two Conferences
Garrett, Mangino Sweep Weekly League Honors
Garrett Named HVWAC Swimmer of the Week
Orellana, McCullough Garner Skyline Honors

2008-09 Women's Swim Team Schedule
(9-1, Skyline 5-0, HVWAC 3-0)

2009 Skyline Tournament Champions

2009 Skyline Regular Season Champions

2008 HVWAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions

2007-08 Season in Review

Panthers Flirt with Perfection
Win HVWAC Crown; Second at Skyline

Purchase, NY – The 2007-08 Purchase Panthers’ swim team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons ever, starting out a perfect 10-0. Before the season was over, the Panthers swam to a Skyline Conference regular season title, going 5-0 in the league and finishing second in the league championships.

In December, after wrapping up the regular championship in the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference, the Panthers won the tournament. What a year it was for coach Peter Nestel, who in his second full season with the Panthers' swim team as he guided Purchase to a 10-1 overall record. 

After finishing second to Sarah Lawrence last year, the Panthers got their revenge in the HVWAC in 2007 by winning their first ever title. They defeated three-time defending champion Sarah Lawrence in a 120-96 rout. Kimberly Garrett (JR/Ossining, NY) was named the swimmer of the week once in the HVWAC and took home three Skyline Honor Roll awards.

Former  Purchase Female Rookie of the Year, Janine Brennan (SR/Somers, NY) finished the season by qualifying for the ECAC Division III championships in the 50-yard freestyle as well as winning a Skyline Swimmer of the Week award.

Purchase was also paced by Jessica Brothers (SO/Putnam Valley, NY), Jen Cruttenden (FR/Watkins Glen, NY) and Patricia Orellana (JR/New York, NY) 

The Panthers were also honored with the Team Sportsmanship award for the Skyline Conference at championships.

2007-08 Recaps:
Second at League 'Chips; Win Sportsmanship Honor
USMMA Edges Purchase to End Perfect Season
PERFECTION: Panthers Wipeout Eagles to Take Conference Crown
Purchase Finishes Third in Tri-Meet
Panthers Streak to Nine Straight
Panthers Win HVWAC 'Chip; Three All-Conference
Quest for Perfection Reaches 8-0
Panthers Excel at ECACs
Shorthanded Panthers Stay Perfect
Unbeaten Panthers Clinch HVWAC Title
Streaking Panthers Sweep Tri-Meet
Panthers Cruise in Home Opener
Panthers Open Season 2-0

2007-08 News:
Garrett, Cruttenden Top List of League Honorees
Garrett Named to League Honor Roll
Brothers Named Skyline Swimmer of the Week
Brennan, Cruttenden Recognized by Skyline
Garrett Sweeps Swimmer of the Week Honors
Orellana Named League's Top Rookie
Brothers Garners HVWAC Swimmer of the Week

2007-08 Women's Swim Team Schedule
(10-1, Skyline 5-0, HVWAC 4-0)

2007 HVWAC League and Tournament
Champions

2008 Skyline Conference Regular Season Champions
Tournament Runners-Up 

2006 Women's Swim Team Results

(5-5 Overall; 3rd Place Reg. Season)
2nd @ HVWAC Swim Championships