NORTON, Mass. – Wellesley College swimming & diving opened the 2025-26 season with wins over Wheaton College and Bentley University at Balfour Natatorium on Friday night. The Blue won 181-91 over Wheaton and 169.5-116.5 against Bentley.

The Blue opened the day with the top two spots in the 200 Medley Relay. Seniors Tracey Liu (Princeton, N.J.), Kavita Sekhon (Los Angeles, Calif.), and first-years Lucy Choe (Ellicott City, Md.) and Jolyn Zheng (Irvine, Calif.) topped the field with a time of 1:50.32. Sophomore Lily Fender (Burnsville, N.C.), first-years Lana Richard (Oakland, Calif.), Jessica Zhao (Beijing, China) and Adilene De La Cruz (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) were just behind in second at 1:53.04.

Liu finished in first place with a top-time of 1:00.69 in the 100 Free. Fender earned third, putting up a 1:01.23.

Sekhon led the 100 Breaststroke pack, hitting the wall first at 1:06.84. Richard took third place, coming in at 1:09.18. Sekhon and Richard had the same results in the 200 Breaststroke, hitting at 2:28.27 and 2:28.30 respectively. Richard also had a runner-up showing in the 200 IM with a 2:14.48 time.

De La Cruz and Zheng were the two leading performers in the 50 Free. De La Cruz won at 25.85 and Zheng broke the 26 second mark at 25.99.

In the 100 Free, Zhao (56.74) and De La Cruz (57.12) defeated all competitors.

Senior Elsa Marsden (Vienna, Va.) won 1-Meter Diving with a 188.25 score.

First-year Alexis Kung (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) and Zheng went 2-3 in the 200 Free. Kung earned silver (2:00.55) while Zheng collected the bronze (2:01.17). Kung later won the 200 Back, touching at 2:09.09.

First-year Margaret Lockman (Princeton Junction, N.J.) had a top-three finish in the 200 Fly, taking the third spot at 2:28.50.

First-year Hannah Machleidt (Middleton, Wis.) led the Blue in the 1000 Free, taking fourth at 11:27.96.

De La Cruz, Sekhon, Kung and Liu closed the day with the gold in the 200 Free Relay, winning with a 1:42.33 showing.

Next up, Wellesley will host Merrimack College and Simmons University at Chandler Pool on Saturday, November 8.