Staten Island, NY- The Wagner College swim team bested Northeast Conference (NEC) rival Bryant University 160-102 in the season openers for both teams at the Spiro Sports this afternoon. The Seahawks finished the meet with 10 first-place finishes in the 14 event competition.
Senior co-captains,
Jessica Hart (Montreal, Canada / Northwest) and
Melanie Rodriguez-Lapman (Chesire, CT / Chesire) led the team with three first-place finishes in each of their respective events. Hart's first-place marks came in the 50 freestyle (25.40), 100 freestyle (55.91) and 100 butterfly (59.30). Rodriguez-Lapman bested the field in the 1000 freestyle (10:56.07), 500 freestyle (5:23.44) and 200 IM (2:18.95).
Sophomore
Jakki Guenther (South Hadley, MA / South Hadley HS) picked up a top-spot in the 200 backstroke, clocking in at 2:12.47 while freshman
Alanna Gibbons (Staten Island, NY / Staten Island Tech) took first in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:17.77.
The Green & White also won both relay events, winning the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:53.85 and the 400 freestyle Relay with a times of 3:46.81, respectively. Wagner's 200 Medley Relay team consisted of Guenther, junior
Bethny Brown (Enfield, CT / Ennco Fermi High), Hart and junior
Sarah Plucinsky (Allentown, PA / Allentown Central Catholic). The Seahawks 400 freestyle relay team was compiled of freshman
Amber Weech (Nassau, Bahamas / Saint Augustine's), sophomore
Lauren Meyer (Hamden, CT / Hamden HS), Guenther and Plucinsky.
“We did a great job of competing today,” said head coach
Mark Sowa. “Our captains were fantastic both in and out of the water. We made some early season mistakes but that just means we have to keep on working hard. It was also tremendous to see so many alumnae in the stands. That means a great deal to the program.”
Today was the swimming program's alumni day, which also was special for Bryant head coach Katie Dolan, who started the Wagner Swimming program and was coach for eight years.
The Seahawks also had eight second-place finishes and five third-place finishes.
Wagner returns to action tomorrow, Sunday October 18th when they host the University of New Hampshire in a dual meet at 11:00 PM.
FINAL RESULTS
