ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - The Stevenson Gymnasium, as it was previously called, was built around 1990 at Bard College and included a six-lane natatorium.
The pool has hosted swim club practices, youth and senior programs, and has provided an outlet for Bard students, faculty and staff. There was even a kayaking instruction class held there last year.
Before Saturday, however, it had never hosted a varsity swimming meet.
There were no varsity swimming teams at Bard until 2011, and even then, the timing equipment wasn't suitable for an NCAA meet. That's been rectified, too.
So on Saturday, the Raptors made history at the Stevenson Athletic Center. Bard hosted SUNY Cobleskill, and although both the men's and women's teams lost, they will forever be remembered as the first group to ever host a varsity swim meet here.
On the women's side, SUNY Cobleskill prevailed, 146-35. On the men's side, the Fighting Tigers prevailed, 121-62.
Complete results
Team scores
Bard did not win any events, but numerous swimmers had personal best times. They include
Emily Hoelzli in the 1,000 and 500 freestyle; Hannah McCarley in the 200-free and 100-breast; Sarah Jones in the 50- and 100-free;
Max McKee in the 50- and 100-free;
Julia Marx in the 200-IM and 100-back;
Irena Jaffe Goldstein in the 200-fly and 500-free;
Josh Hodge in the 100-fly and 100-breast;
Lulu Prager in the 50- and 100-free;
Muhsin King in the 50- and 100-free;
Max Ellenbogen in the 100-breast;
Bradford Johnson in the 200-free, and
Dominic Stegall in the 200-free.
The Raptors are back on the road this weekend, heading to Cazenovia College. The next home meet will be on Dec. 14 when Bard hosts Purchase College.
