BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sophomore Hunter Bernhardt (Groton) won the 1,650-yard freestyle – his second title in three days – and was named the Men's Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet to help the Cortland finish in second place out of nine schools at the 2020 SUNYAC Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. The event was held at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Center.

Cortland entered Saturday's final day of competition in third place, 19.5 points behind Oswego. The Red Dragons slowly closed ground on the Lakers and eventually passed them in the second-to-last event, the 200-yard butterfly, before securing the second-place finish with a third-place effort in the final relay. Geneseo won its seventh straight league title with 964.5 points, followed by Cortland (500.5) and Oswego (492.5). New Paltz placed fourth (331), barely ahead of Oneonta (326), with Brockport (290.5), Fredonia (284.5), Buffalo State (252.5) and Potsdam (132) rounding out the scoring.

Cortland has finished second two of the last three years and has been a top-four finisher in the conference each of the last 17 years.

Bernhardt won the 1,650-yard freestyle in 16:23.27. On Thursday, Bernhardt won the 500-yard freestyle (4:39.50), and he was sixth in the 200-yard freestyle on Friday (1:45.09, 1:44.89 prelims). Nick Galeto (West Islip) finished third in the 200-yard backstroke (1:55.99), and he joined Aiden Poli (Cortland/Home schooled), Josh Chamak (New City/Clarkstown North) and Tim Rokos (Duanesburg) for a third-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:10.01).

The top three finishers in each event earn All-SUNYAC honors. Winners are first team, runners-up are second team and third-place finishers are third team. Each athlete's top event finish at the meet is used to determine their official all-league placement.

Jason Boyko (Poughkeepsie/Our Lady of Lourdes) finished fourth in the 1,650 freestyle (16:45.49) and sixth in the 200-yard butterfly (1:57.91, 1:57.29 prelims). Rokos was fourth in the 200 backstroke (1:56.30). Chamak placed seventh in the 200 backstroke (1:58.45), John Severs (Suffern) was seventh in the 1,650 freestyle (17:11.25), and Noah Farmer (New Hartford) was seventh in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:11.67).

Dylan Cornelia (Deer Park) won the "B" final in the 200 breaststroke (2:12.02) to place ninth overall. Alex Fisher (Smithtown/Hauppauge) was 10th in that race in 2:12.07. Poli tied for 11th place in the 100-yard freestyle (48.38) and Billy Donlevy (Bayside/Holy Cross) was 13th in the 200 butterfly (2:00.85). Pat Calhoun (Oneonta) scored in two events with 15th-place efforts in the 1,650 freestyle (18:26.44) and 200 butterfly (2:03.44). Ian Murray (Moravia/Southern Cayuga) recorded a 16th-place finish in the 200 backstroke (2:03.82, 2:01.93 prelims).

Championship Web Page (includes links to results, video and photos)

2020 SUNYAC Men's Swimming and Diving Championships

Complete Results (all days):
Men
Women

FINAL TEAM SCORES:
1) Geneseo – 964.5
2) Cortland – 500.5
3) Oswego – 492.5
4) New Paltz – 331
5) Oneonta – 326
6) Brockport – 290.5
7) Fredonia – 284.5
8) Buffalo St. – 252.5
9) Potsdam – 132