Hartwick College Men's Swimming and Diving Relay Teams Stand Out in Empire 8 All-Conference

The Empire 8 has recently announced their selections for the 2024-25 Men's Swimming and Diving Championship All-Conference Teams, with Hartwick nearly sweeping Second-Team honors in the relay events.

Sophomore Cameron Drake (El Cajon, Cal.) was a standout in distance freestyle events, securing a First-Team selection in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:34.94. Drake also was selected for First-Team in the 1650-yard freestyle, clocking in at 16:02.58, nearly 33 seconds ahead of his opponent.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team-composed of Hassan Abdelwahed (New Hartford, N.Y.), Evan Nezat (Jacksonville, NC), Sebastian Knowles (Plano, TX), and Bryce Rogers (Fulton, N.Y)-clinched a Second-Team spot with a time of 1:26.54.

Abdelwahed, Nezat, and Rogers-along with Drake-would also go on to make Second-Team in both the 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays, with times of 3:09.42 and 6:56.35, respectively.

In the 200-yard medley relay, Owen James (St. Lutz, Fla.), Mahdi Behniaye (Hannibal, Mo.), Knowles, and Drake would make Second-Team with their time of 1:38.10.

To qualify for Empire 8 All-Conference selection, student-athletes must have finished in the top two of an event at the Conference's Championship Meet, which was held February 19-22 from the Webster Aquatic Center. Winners of each event are named to First Team, while the Second Team is comprised of the first runner-up from each event.

For more information, see the full Empire 8 release here.