Aquatic Achievements: Swim & Dive Command the Spotlight While Men’s Basketball Shines on Honor Roll

TROY, N.Y. – The Union College swimming and diving squads commenced 2025 by receiving a duo of weekly accolades, while the men’s basketball team secured a place on the honor roll during the first Liberty League weekly recognitions of the New Year, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

Men’s Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week: Drew Hill

Hill showcased a solid performance against Amherst College, achieving two top-three placements along with a personal best time of 2:01.61 in the 200 butterfly, finishing fourth. He narrowly missed first place to end second in the 50 butterfly with a time of 23.65 and also achieved a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle, clocking in at 49.52, exactly one second behind the top finisher.

 

Women’s Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week: Kristina Valenti

Valenti delivered an impressive performance on Saturday against #20 Amherst College. She set a season-best time in the 100 freestyle, finishing third at 56.95, just 0.36 seconds behind the second-place competitor. Valenti subsequently secured second place in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:38.08.

Honor Roll Recognitions:

 

Men’s Basketball: Jack Plesser

Plesser averaged 25.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor over a pair of matches at the Emory Holiday Classic on December 29-30. The sophomore opened the week with a game-high 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting and an impeccable 8-of-8 from the free-throw line in a 73-71 victory against LaGrange, netting 13 points in the first period and then contributing 14 in the latter half, including the critical basket with three seconds left to break the tie and seal the game’s final points. He nearly led Union to a significant upset against #1 Emory the following day, scoring 24 points while grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds in a 77-71 loss. He was nearly unstoppable in the opening half, making 7-of-10 attempts and scoring 16 points, as the Garnet Chargers established a lead of up to 17 points early on, marking the largest deficit faced by the Eagles throughout the season and the first occasion this season that Emory trailed at halftime.