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Men’s Swim & Dive Defeats Dartmouth and Cornell at Ivy Opener Dual Meet

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The men’s swim and dive team (3-0, 2-0 Ivy) hit the road on Friday to take on Dartmouth (0-4, 0-4 Ivy) and Cornell (1-1, 1-1 Ivy) at their traditional dual meet to begin the Ivy season. The Crimson reigned supreme against its colorful competition, crushing both the Big Green and the Big Red handily.

Harvard beat Dartmouth 217-82 and Cornell 215-85, displaying its aquatic prowess early on against its first two Ivy opponents. Head Coach Kevin Tyrrell said he was proud of his athletes, but that they need to maintain a tough mindset throughout the season.

“When our guys are tired, we need to make sure they don’t settle for slower than what they’re capable of,” Tyrrell said.

While the Crimson typically outscores Dartmouth by a wide margin, the team has had much closer meets against Cornell in the two seasons before this. With this promising beginning, Tyrrell hopes that his athletes find it within themselves to remain dominant in the water.

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“It’s their choice whether they push themselves early in the races or not,” Tyrell said. “It’s really up to them.”

Tyrrell added that he was especially proud of his swimmers’ speed in the 200-yard medley relay. Sophomores Adriano Arioti, Joshua Chen, Marre Gattnar, and junior Sonny Wang placed first in the race with an impressive time of 1:27.23.

The Crimson also took command in the 500-yard freestyle, with freshmen Pablo Martínez Palop, Ognjen Pilipovic, and William Mulgrew taking the top three spots. Freshman Maro Miknic also placed first in the 100-yard butterfly. All around, teammates from the class of 2029 showcased the talent they bring to the pool, and the future of the men’s swim and dive team looks promising.

Despite Harvard’s winning scores, Tyrrell encouraged his athletes to show more visible support for their teammates. He reflected that the pool deck was too quiet and that better team camaraderie would help the athletes keep up a winning mentality.

“I always think my team should cheer more,” Tyrrell said. “Swimming is a hard sport because it’s individual, but I’m looking for more excitement out of the guys.”

On the diving board, Harvard senior Raphael Tourette stood out, placing first in one-meter diving and second in three-meter diving.

The Crimson is looking to continue its powerful performance at its upcoming meet on November 21 against Columbia. Since this meet is the day before the popular The Game, Tyrrell said he urged his athletes to concentrate on the pool before anything else until the meet is complete.

“I really want them to stay focused on their races,” Tyrrell said. “Not on all the fun they’re going to have the next day.”

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