Women’s Swim & Dive Tops Lehigh at Crandall Pool

Friday, January 8

West Point, NY

5 PM

Army West Point

176

118

Lehigh

Women’s Swim & Dive Tops Lehigh at Crandall Pool

January 08, 2016 | Women's Swimming and Diving

RESULTS

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point women's swimming and diving team topped Patriot League foe Lehigh, 176-118, in Friday night's dual-meet at Crandall Pool. The Black Knights improved to 5-1 after placing first in nine swimming events and one diving event, and sweeping in all breaststroke and backstroke competitions.

"Tonight was a good starting place for second semester," said head coach Mickey Wender. "There is still room for improvement across the board. There were definitely some highlights, but it was mostly learning experience. This is something to build off of for Bucknell tomorrow and the final weeks of the season leading into the conference meet. We are looking forward to sending our seniors off in style tomorrow."

The Black Knights began the meet with a 1-2 finish in the 400 medley relay. Kelly Hamilton, Kara Wineinger, Molly Mucciarone and Monica Sowinski placed first after finishing in 3:58.81. Bailey Smith, Jess Ambrose, Shannon Rogers and Jenna Forrester were second with a time of 3:58.21.

Sabrina Mortell clocked a first-place time in the 1000 free (10:25.19), and was followed by Meaghan McGovern (10:37.66) and Sidney Evans (10:38.60) who were third and fourth.

In the 200 free, Sowinski placed second after touching the wall in 1:54.81. The Cadets swept the 100 back with Hamilton leading the way with a time of 57.03. She was followed by Smith (58.88), Cecelia Croman (58.97) and Kim Sembrano (59.20).

During the following event, the 100 breast, Army earned another sweep. Wineinger was first after clocking a 1:06.98. Ambrose was second in 1:07.92 with Fabrizio and Margaret Ireland following closely behind with times of 1:08.20 and 1:08.94, respectively.

Rogers and Teresa Groton were Army's top finishers in the 200 fly. Rogers recorded a 2:09.04, while Groton finished in 2:11.53.

In the sprinting events, Mucciarone was second in the 50 free (23.92) for Army and Hamilton finished as the runner-up in the 100 free (52.13).

The Black Knights clinched another backstroke sweep during the 200 back. Smith placed first in 2:03.83 and was followed by Burkett (2:06.72), Sembrano (2:07.50) and Croman (2:07.63).

Army swept the 200 breast with Ambrose (2:25.86), Fabrizio (2:27.05), Wineinger (2:27.09), and Ireland (2:29.67) placing first through fourth.

In the 500 free, Mortell earned another first-place finish after recording a 5:05.20. McGovern followed in second with a time of 5:08.61.

Mucciarone clocked a 56.11 in the 100 fly to place first. Rogers and Groton followed with times of 58.15 and 58.52 to place second and third. Burkett won the 200 IM after touching the wall in 2:08.46 to close out the swimming events.

Jorie Mason won the 3-meter diving event. She earned marks of 209.09, to earn the first, first-place finish of her career. Rebecca Sleight also competed for the Black Knights and tallied a score of 143.46 to finish third.

Off the 1-meter, Mason placed second with 186.14 points and was followed by Sleight who notched 149.33.

The Black Knights will return to Crandall Pool to host senior day prior to the dual-meet versus Bucknell. The team will recognize firsties Jen Clay, Jess Fabrizio, Kate Kinley, Molly Mucciarone and Shannon Rogers along with those from the men's team; Pierre Archambeau, Zack Blankenbeker, Alex Dempsey, Joe Frullaney, Colin Kanzari, Austin Kong, Sam Mo, Adam Sjholm, Chris Szekely, Nick Treiberg and Aaron Yoshizuka prior to the 1 p.m. meet.

"I've always felt like the teams that I have coached in particular live and die by their senior class," stated Wender. "This particular class has been extremely consistent. I think that this group of seniors sees themselves as a corner stone group in terms of what we are trying to accomplish and the goals that we have for the program. There is no question that they've taken us to another level and I think there is a real sense of accomplishment and optimism about the foundation they've helped establish for the future and what they're capable of doing this year.

"I think this class has also been good at empowering the under classmen," Wender said. "They have given them the skills and autonomy they need to perform to their full potential. These seniors have been good mentors and role models. There is a real sense of pride, ownership and commitment with this group and I am really happy with this senior class."

For up-to-date information about Army swimming and diving, please follow @ArmyWP_SwimDive on Twitter and Instagram.