WELLESLEY, Mass. – Led by four members of the class of 2012, the Wellesley College Swimming and Diving team posted a convincing 199-101 over NEWMAC-rival Smith College on Saturday afternoon at Chandler Pool. The meet, celebrated as 'Senior Day,' marked the last home competition for the Blue this season.
The victory improves Wellesley's dual meet record to 6-2 overall, and already gives the Blue more wins than in each of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, the loss evens Smith's dual meet mark to 2-2.
Leading the way for the senior class, Stephanie Welch recorded two event wins, taking the 200-free in a time of 2:01.57, and the 200-back in 2:16.77. She also placed third in the 200-IM in 2:22.33. Olivia Hulme recorded a win in the 100-fly in 1:03.64, while also posting a lifetime best in a second place finish in the 200-free (2:04.10). Also for the Blue seniors, Katherine Foley took third place in two events, finishing the 100-fly in 1:03.13, and the 200-fly in 2:25.13, while Allison Yee took fifth in the 200-breast in 2:48.30 and finished the 100-breast in 1:21.39. Rounding out the action for the class of 2012, the foursome teamed up for two fourth place relay finishes.
Wellesley also got strong performances from sophomores Keelin Nave and Hayley Goydan. Nave won the 1,000-free in a time of 10:48.61, under three seconds off the school record of 10:45.92 (Alex Simas, 2007), while Goydan took first on the 1-meter diving event (277.25) and second on the 3-meter event (266.45), just .45 points behind the winner.
Other event winners for Wellesley included sophomores Megan Lambert (50-free: 27.12), Lindsey Shepardson (100-breast: 1:03.40), and Anne Hamilton (200-breast: 2:39.10). First-year swimmers with event wins were, Veronica Lin (100-back: 1:03.40), Grace Bachman (2:18.04), and Monica Gates (100-free: 57.84). In addition, first-year Sabrina Giglio hit a lifetime best of 6:00.74 to take fourth in the 500-free.
Rounding out the meet for Wellesley, both relay teams took first. The 200-medley team of sophomore Emma Mrkonic, Shephardson, Gates and Bachman touched in 1:59.15, while the 400-free team of Mrkonic, first-year Tiffany Chen, sophomore Gabriela Kovacikova, and Bachman finised in 3:56.63.
For Smith, juniors Mackenzie Bradley and Jenika Parson, and first-year Alyssa Pascuzzo picked up event wins. Bradley won the 500-free in a time of 5:28.87, while recording second place finishes in the 200-fly (2:21.43) and the 1,000-free (11:12.01). Parson took first in the 1-meter diving competition, recording a score of 266.90, while taking second on the 1-meter board (273.10), just four points off the winner.
Also for the Pioneers, sophomore Victoria Wu racked up second place finishes in both breaststroke events, finishing the 100 in 1:16.44, and the 200 in 2:44.48. Sophomore Lauren Kauffman also had a strong day, taking second in the 50-free in 27.53, and third in the 100-free in 59.59.
Both teams are back in action at next weekend's Seven Sisters Swimming and Diving Championship, hosted by Smith.
Wellesley Swimming & Diving Class of 2012
