Staten Island, NY- The Wagner College swim team dropped its first Northeast Conference (NEC) meet of the season this afternoon to the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils, 153-108. With the loss, the Seahawks fall to 5-6 overall, 4-1 in the NEC. 

Leading the squad for the Green & White were senior co-captains Jessica Hart (Montreal, Canada / Northwest) and Melanie Rodriguez-Lapman (Chesire, CT / Chesire). Hart's performance was highlighted by a pool record mark of 56.67 in the 100 butterfly and a first-place finish in the 50 freestyle (24.70). In the 200 butterfly, Rodriguez-Lapman bested the pack with her time of 2:11.03. 

It was only fitting that Hart and Rodriguez-Lapman would turn in such fine performances on Senior Day.

“Jessica and Melanie were incredible today,” said Head Coach Mark Sowa. “They have given a tremendous amount to the program over the past four years. It was wonderful to see them go out in the fashion that they deserve. It would have been nice to give them a win tonight, but watching them race their individual races shows why they have been such contributors to Wagner Swimming.” 

The Seahawks also notched a first-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, completing the event with a time of 3:40.29. The relay team consisted of Hart, sophomore Jakki Guenther (South Hadley, MA / South Hadley HS), junior Sarah Plucinsky (Allentown, PA / Allentown Central Catholic) and Rodriguez-Lapman. 

The Seahawks finished the meet with seven second-place finishes and seven third-place marks. Plucinsky garnered second-place finishes in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle with respective times of 2:01.77 and 56.80. In the 100 breaststroke, junior Bethny Brown (Enfield, CT / Ennco Fermi High) took second with her time of 1:11.32. Freshman Amber Weech (Nassau, Bahamas / Saint Augustine's) placed second in the 50 freestyle (26.44) while Guenther took second in the 200 backstroke (2:14.06). Rounding out the Seahawks' second-place finishers was Rodriguez-Lapman in the 200 IM with her time of 2:15.68. 

Wagner also swam to a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay, touching in at 1:52.85. The relay team consisted of Guenther, Brown, Hart and Weech. 

The Green & White return to action on February 11th when the Seahawks travel to Yale University to compete in the three-day-long NEC Championships. 

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