Williams Men's Swim Team Posts Best NCAA Finish Since '82

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SHENANDOAH, Texas -- After finishing in eighth place at NCAAs for the last three seasons, Steve Kuster's Williams College men's swimming took this year's competition to a whole new level on Saturday, maintaining its third place spot all the way through the final day of competition.
 
The school's last third place finish at nationals was in 1982. 
 
The evening began with the highly anticipated, grueling event of the 1,650-yard freestyle, in which senior Christian Gronbeck represented the Ephmen in the Championship Final. Gronbeck placed fourth overall with a time of 15 minutes, 21.71 seconds, capping off his swimming career with a very solid swim and a NESCAC record. 
 
In the 200-yard backstroke, Ben Lin came back to capture a fourth place finish in the Championship Final. He posted a time of 1:46.06. He was joined in the event by Alex McCarter '16, who placed 12th overall with a time of 1:48.40. 
 
In the 200-yard Breaststroke, Tim Lattimer rounded out his career with a fifth place finish and a career best time of 1:59.99. On the 3-meter board, diver Rohan Bhatt placed 13th overall with a score of 463.60. 
 
The Ephs closed out the night and the weekend by dominating the Consolation Final of the 400-yard freestyle relay. The team of Grant Johnson, Alex McCarter, Thad Ricotta and Alexander Nanda touched in for a final time of 2:59.81, a full 2 seconds faster than their initial seed time, and a  NESCAC record.
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Williamstown Charter Review Panel OKs Fix to Address 'Separation of Powers' Concern

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter.
 
The committee accepted language designed to meet concerns raised by the Planning Board about separation of powers under the charter.
 
The committee's original compliance language — Article 32 on the annual town meeting warrant — would have made the Select Board responsible for determining a remedy if any other town board or committee violated the charter.
 
The Planning Board objected to that notion, pointing out that it would give one elected body in town some authority over another.
 
On Wednesday, Charter Review Committee co-Chairs Andrew Hogeland and Jeffrey Johnson, both members of the Select Board, brought their colleagues amended language that, in essence, gives authority to enforce charter compliance by a board to its appointing authority.
 
For example, the Select Board would have authority to determine a remedy if, say, the Community Preservation Committee somehow violated the charter. And the voters, who elect the Planning Board, would have ultimate say if that body violates the charter.
 
In reality, the charter says very little about what town boards and committees — other than the Select Board — can or cannot do, and the powers of bodies like the Planning Board are regulated by state law.
 
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