Box Score

Smithfield, RI – The Wagner College swimming and diving team open its 2010-2011 campaign taking over three Bryant pool records, but fell to the Bulldogs 193-123 today at Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs used their home pool advantage, winning 10 of the meets 14 events. Wagner took first and second place points in the meets second event, as freshman Kristiana Kalibat (Princeton, NJ) and Alexandra Cooney (Port Jervis, NY) finished one-two in the 1000 yard freestyle with times of 10:45.05 and 10:46.77 respectively. The two first-years times were good enough to crack the Bryant's pool records in that event.

After finishing second in the next nine events, the Seahawks finished strong, winning the last three events. Sophomore Alanna Gibbons (Staten Island, NY) took first place in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:00.57, while freshman Sarah Menendez (Land O'Lakes, FL) came in second with a 1:01.75 mark. Gibbons time earned her the visiting pool record as well.

Junior Jakki Guenther (South Hadley, MA) earned her team nine points for her first place finish in the 200 yard IM, finishing less than a second ahead of Bryant swimmer Molly Smith, with a time of 2:17.03.

The Seahawks relay team picked up the days last top points as the team of Meredith Ketchmark (Plainsboro, NJ), Menendez, Lauren Meyer (Hamden, CT) and Amber Weech (Nassau, Bahamas) finished over three second ahead of the Bulldogs, finishing with a 3:42.15 time. Wagner's relay team gave the Seahawks, their third record-setting performance of the day.

"It is hard to be happy after a loss but our athletes swam really well and I like some of the things I saw,” said head coach Mark Sowa. “We lost too many close races but we also showed what kind of depth this team has by how the girls kept battling back. The freshmen performed admirably but we also made some rookie mistakes. Again, I think this team is going to continue to improve and I look forward to watching that happen."

Wagner will head north from Smithfield up to Durham, New Hampshire, to take on the Wildcats of the University of New Hampshire to wrap up the season opening weekend.