On an emotionally charged Saturday afternoon that marked the final career home meet for the men's and women's swimming and diving team's 10 seniors, the women emerged victorious over Worcester Polytechnic Institute 145-130, while the men dropped their final four races to lose 150-141. After both teams defeated Clark University on Wednesday, each stands at 4-6 before heading into the UAA Championships on Feb. 8. In a meet that came down to the final moments of the final race, the men's 400-yard freestyle relay team held the lead until the last lap, when WPI junior Joel Rousseau passed Hal Grossman '07 in the final leg to clinch the victory for the Engineers.

"I would have cried if my teammates weren't around, that's how disappointing it was," Grossman said. "I tried really hard, and I just felt really, really tired because I swam so much before,"

Grossman had already won three events prior to the final relay, taking the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle events and the 200-yard butterfly with times of 5:00.42, 10:17.33, and 2:03.85, respectively. Captain Matt Lerman '07 added two victories in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events, and Nick Rice '08 added a victory in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2 minutes and 6.51 seconds.

Grossman was quick to credit the Engineers for their unexpected comeback.

"I wouldn't say we took the meet for granted, because we had a strong lineup, but they surprised us with how fast they swam," he said. "All their kids dropped lots of time in their races."

Coach James Zotz said that the loss of diver Ashkan Hamzelou '08, who could not compete due to meniscus damage in his knees that requires off-season surgery, threw off the Judges' game plan.

"I thought we would have outscored them in [the diving] and then eliminated the need to win the last relay," he said.

On the women's side, Sharon Makowsky '06 was the highlight for the Judges on senior day, winning three individual events, including a school record-setting time of 2 minutes and 17.86 seconds in the 200-yard backstroke, an event she doesn't compete in regularly. She also was a member of the all-senior 400-yard freestyle relay team that tied for the win after being in last place after the first leg.

Makowsky attributed a large part of her success to the support of her family and friends in the crowd, who screamed "Go Sharon Go," during all her races.

"I always feel better when I have people in the stands there," she said.

Overall, the women's team took 13 of 16 events in its 145-130 win. Lalin Anik '06 and Joanna Roberts '06 both ended their regular-season careers with victories.

Anik won the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard individual medley with times of one minute and 7.07 seconds and 2 minutes and 24.78 seconds, respectively. Roberts won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 27.50 seconds.

Zotz said he experimented with the women's lineup in an attempt to give all the seniors a chance to compete.

"The point of the meet was certainly to get the win, but at the same time, to try to get seniors into events that would be good and fun for them," he said.

The meet was halted after the 50-yard freestyle event to honor the 10 seniors on both teams. Family members were asked to come down to the deck as the seniors were recognized.

In another ceremony after the 1-meter dive, captain Lev Davidson '06 passed on the team's traditional "Bonzai" trophy to Grossman. As swimmers banged their kickboards against the poolside, Grossman took his board, stepped up on the diving platform and jumped in, proclaiming, "Bonzai!"

Grossman said the point of the Bonzai tradition is "for entertainment and to get the team pumped up."

"When I jump off the board, I'm supposed to do something creative, but I couldn't think of anything," he said. "Over the summer, I'm going to train and practice something to do when I jump off the diving board."

Against Clark on Wednesday, both teams picked up their first victories of the semester. Lerman won the 200-yard individual medley, the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard breaststroke to lead the men. Charlotte Rea '08 led the women with victories in the 1- and 3- meter diving and the 50-yard freestyle.

The Judges now turn their attention to the UAA Championships, which begin Feb 8 in Atlanta.

Zotz said both teams are ready and prepared after the last meet.

"I'd be surprised if there is anybody who is even remotely down," he said. "Everybody is psyched.