Jim McKenzie

Men's Swimming & Diving 1/23/2026 8:37:00 PM Tim LaDuca, Assistant Athletic Communications Director

Men's Swimming & Diving Wins Pair of Events in Troy

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Cole Pierson and first-year Troy Luley led the way with two event victories for the Union College men's swimming & diving team on Friday evening as the Garnet Chargers fell 158-64 against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Pierson posted a lifetime-best score in the 1-meter dive, winning the event with 200.5 points. His performance represents the ninth-best score in the Liberty League this season. Luley won the 100 breaststroke, posting a 59.25, which would be good enough to land the first-year in the program's top-10 of the event had Luley not already swum a 58.98 earlier in the season.

With Senior Day scheduled against Vassar on Saturday, Jan. 24, Union used Friday as an off-event meet with eight Garnet Chargers earning lifetime-best times. Senior Drew Hill led the way with a second-place finish in the 100 backstroke, posting a lifetime-best 55.68. That is also the fastest 100 back time from a Union swimmer this season. Hill earned a lifetime best in the 200 freestyle as well, touching the wall in 1:54.63 and placing second.

Sophomore Crosby Grim secured his lifetime bests in the 400 individual medley (5:06.75) and 100 butterfly (1:09.03). Sophomore Myles Gronbach went 55.17 in the 100 freestyle for a lifetime best, junior Gavin Baltes touched the wall in 56.27 of the 100 fly for a lifetime best, sophomore Brayden Green went 23.92 in the 50 freestyle for his quickest 500-free time ever, and first-year Nathan Lowney registered his fastest 1,000 freestyle time in 10:49.46. Luley not only finished the 100 fly in 1:01.86 for a lifetime best, but he also notched a season best in the 400 IM (4:22.76).

Two Union relays earned podium finishes with Hill, Luley, first-year Lucas Miller, and Baltes placing third in the 400 medley relay (3:43.03), and first-year Tripp Kennedy, senior Benjamin Sperling, Baltes, and first-year Emlen Lease also placing third in the 200 freestyle relay.

Among other top-three finishes were Green during his lifetime-best 50 free performance, Kennedy placing third in the 100 fly (56.27), senior Josh Hiller finishing third in the 100 free (53.22), and Lowney going 5:21.68 in the 500 freestyle and placing third.

Union returns home on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. for Senior Day against Vassar.

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Players Mentioned

Brayden Green: Breast/Fly; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Crosby Grim: Breast/Free; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Myles Gronbach: Free/Back/Fly; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Drew Hill: Fly/Free; 6' 6"; Senior

Josh Hiller: Breast/IM; 6' 0"; Senior

Benjamin Sperling: Free/Breast; 5' 9"; Senior

Tripp Kennedy: Free/Back; 6' 0"; First Year

Emlen Lease: Breast; 5' 10"; First Year

Nathan Lowney: Free; 6' 2"; First Year

Troy Luley: Breast/Free; 6' 0"; First Year

Players Mentioned

Brayden Green
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: Breast/Fly

Crosby Grim
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: Breast/Free

Myles Gronbach
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: Free/Back/Fly

Drew Hill
: 6' 6"; Senior
: Fly/Free

Josh Hiller
: 6' 0"; Senior
: Breast/IM

Benjamin Sperling
: 5' 9"; Senior
: Free/Breast

Tripp Kennedy
: 6' 0"; First Year
: Free/Back

Emlen Lease
: 5' 10"; First Year
: Breast

Nathan Lowney
: 6' 2"; First Year
: Free

Troy Luley
: 6' 0"; First Year
: Breast/Free