NORTON, Mass. — Wellesley College swimming & diving opened up the 2021-22 season in a 172-93 loss at Wheaton College inside the Balfour Natatorium.

Two Blue racers won individual events on Saturday, including first year Cecilia Cai (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Jessica Wegner (Taipei, Taiwan). Cai came away with a victory in the 200-yard butterfly event, posting a winning time of 2:12.29 which was over seven seconds clear of the second place finisher. Wegner took first in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.22. Wheaton's Katie Walz finished just behind at 58.45.

Wegner earned a second place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, coming in just over a second behind Wheaton's Reese Hartman (Grand Rapids, Mich.) who placed first. Wegner's finishing time was an impressive 1:01.19. Cai also earned a second place finish in the 500 yard freestyle, clocking in at 5:28.12 and earning four points. Lydia DaCorte (Mount Desert Island, Maine) won the event with a time of 5:15.24.

The team of Mellany Smith (West Orange, N.J.), Ariana Mitsuoka (Centennial, Co.), Wegner, and McKaela Glanville (Menlo Park, Calif.) placed third in the 200-yard medley relay. The squad posted a time of 1:52.38 and earned two points for Wellesley. 

After helping the Blue take third in the 200-yard relay, Glainville placed third in the 200 yard freestyle at 30.75. Teammate Isabella Gilmartin finished in fifth place at 2:07.16 and earned a point.

Wellesley earned seven points in the 200 yard backstroke with a runner-up by Mira Tang (Mercer Island, Wash.) at 2:16.08 and a third place finish by Mellany Smith at 2:16.26.

The Blue finished the day with Glanville swimming a 2:14.43 in the 200-yard individual medley and Mitsuoka, Gilmartin, Smith, and Wegner earning nine points in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:46.0.

Up next, Wellesley will host Simmons University on Saturday, November 6 starting at 1:00 PM. Wheaton will host NEWMAC opponent Coast Guard on Friday, November 5 at 6:00 PM.