Merchant Marines Outswim Golden Eagles in Meet

Patchogue, N.Y.- The Lady Golden Eagles swim team (5-4, 3-2 Skyline) was defeated by the United States Merchant Marine Academy (3-0), 108-86, in a non-conference meet on Wednesday at the Danzi Center Natatorium. 

Jenna Birkmire (Shoreham, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River) led the Golden Eagles, garnering St. Joseph's only first place single event of the evening, clocking a time of 1:04.43 in the 100-yard backstroke. 

SJC's Gabrielle Zollo (West Islip, N.Y. / West Islip), Melissa Nocco (Holbrook, N.Y. / Sachem North), Kimberly Mazza (Bohemia, N.Y. / Connetquot), and Birkmire teamed up in the 200-yard freestyle relay to gain the Golden Eagle's second and final first-place finish against the Mariners.

St. Joseph's had second place finishes from sophomore Marissa Palmeri (East Islip, N.Y. / East Islip), Zollo, Mazza, and Gabriella Cannon.  Palmeri earned the second spot in the 1000-yard freestyle (13:14.32) and the 500-yard freestyle (6:31.44).  Zollo's came in the 100-yard butterfly (1:09.17). Mazza tallied her second place spot in the 100-yard freestyle (1:02.92), and Cannon rounded off the last spot in the 100-yard backstroke, event #10 of the meet (1:28.79).

The Golden Eagles will take the pool for the final time during the 2013-14 regular season this Saturday at home against the Skyline Conference's Mount Saint Mary Knights at 1:00 p.m.