Swim and Dive Slips Past Simmons, 154-145
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Jan. 17, 2009) – The Mount Holyoke College swimming and diving team used a balanced attack to edge Simmons College 154-145 this afternoon in front of its home crowd. With the win, the Lyons improved to 2-3 on the year. Simmons fell to 2-5.
Of the 16 events, Mount Holyoke touched the wall first ten times. Junior Lindsay Schonborn and first year Lydia Bowers figured in on four wins apiece to pace the hosts. The duo started the day with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay (2:01.63). Their teammates for the race were sophomore Michelle Kroll and junior Shannon Sutherland.
Schonborn added victories in the 50-yard (34.26) and 100-yard (1:14.75) breaststroke events, as well as the 200-yard individual medley (2:23.36). Meanwhile, Bowers placed first in both the 50-yard (26.13) and 100-yard (58.08) freestyle races. Her fourth win came in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:58.10), where she teamed with Kroll, senior Lisa Nash and first year Sarah Rooney to seal the victory for the Lyons.
First year Mary Kate Miller took top honors in the 50-yard (31.60) and 100-yard (1:07.76) backstroke events, and Sutherland added a win in the 100-yard butterfly (1:07.46).
Simmons was paced by senior Keri-Ann Arsenault, who recorded top times in both the 500-yard (5:41.49) and 1,000-yard (11:34.12) freestyle competitions. Junior Caitlin Urciuoli won the 200-yard freestyle (2:09.27), and sophomore Chenelle Jackson grabbed first place in the 50-yard butterfly (30.01). Junior Amanda Dirksmeier swept the diving events to round things out for the Sharks.
Mount Holyoke (2-3) will participate in the Seven Sisters Championship next weekend. The event is scheduled to take place at Vassar College from Saturday through Sunday. Simmons (2-5) is slated to return to action on Saturday, January 31 at home against Western New England College.