The University of Vermont swimming and diving team won nine events, swept the diving competition, and set a new pool record in the 400 free relay on its way to a 157-143 victory over last season’s conference champions New Hampshire on Saturday at Forbush Natatorium.
“The outcome was definitely an exciting one for us. We felt the competition was going to be great,” head coach Gerry Cournoyer said. “We really wanted to focus on the process and that’s what our intention has been, and is going to be all year long.”
The Catamounts swept both relay events for the second consecutive meet, capturing first place in both the 400 free relay and 200 medley relay. Andie Blaser, Courtney Gray, Sarah Mantz and Christa Weaver clocked in at 3:30.90 in the 400 free relay to break the old pool record by over two seconds. In the 200 medley relay, Claire Rutscher, Shannon Cowley, Gray and Weaver won the event in 1:48.02.
UVM also swept both diving events, led by junior Maggie Preston. The West Hartford, Connecticut native registered first-place scores of 209.45 and 231.25 in the 1-meter and 3-meter events, respectively. Senior captain Samantha Russo claimed second place in the 1-meter with a score of 209.05.
Gray and Blaser led the Catamounts in the 100 fly, capturing the top two spots in the event. Gray swam the 100 in 58.17 to take first place, and Blaser finished second with a time of 58.65.
Weaver won both the 50 and 100 freestyle events for the second straight meet. The junior clocked in at 24.38 in the 50 and 52.52 in the 100 to take the top spots.
Ilsa Feierabend was the Catamounts’ top swimmer in the backstroke events, placing first in the 200 back (2:09.05), and earning a second-place finish in the 100 back (1:00.18).
Cowley took the top spot in the 100 breast (1:05.82), finishing just shy of the pool record (1:05.42). In the 200 breast, Cowley notched Vermont’s top finish with a time of 2:26.63. Freshman Alexy Novelli swam the 200 fly in 2:10.73 to earn a second-place showing for the Catamounts.
UVM travels to Loudonville, New York for a dual meet with Siena on Saturday (Nov. 1) at 2 p.m. Check UVMathletics.com after the meet for results and a full recap.
College Swimming News courtesy of Vermont Swimming and Diving.