Swimming & Diving Tops Mount Holyoke; Divers Hit NCAA Standards

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College swimming and diving team nabbed a dual meet victory over NEWMAC and Seven Sisters-rival, Mount Holyoke, on Saturday afternoon at Chandler Pool. The Blue topped the Lyons, 190-104, to improve to 7-2 overall, while the Mount Holyoke dips to 6-3.

Wellesley picked up 11 event victories, including sweeping the diving events, to cement the victory. Mount Holyoke picked up five total wins, touching first in four individual events and one relay.

First-year Dorothy Ren and junior Gabriela Kovacikova, who each won multiple individual events, led the hosts to victory. Ren recorded three first place finishes, winning the 50-free (24.74), the 100-fly (58.43) and the 200-free (2:00.74). Kovacikova compiled two wins, nabbing first in the 100-back (1:02.36) and the 200-back (2:13.76).

Also recording individual swimming wins for the Blue were first-years Charlotte Harris and Ieva Galinyte, and junior Mariam Amirkhanashvili. Harris won the 100-breast (1:09.40), Galinyte took the 500-free (5:23.00) and Amirkhanashvili touched first in the 100-free (55.39).

For the Lyons, first-year Cathleen Pruden recorded three individual swimming wins, while sophomore Maya Lazarovich added one victory. Pruden's wins came in the 1000-free (10:54.94), the 200-fly (2:14.63) and the 200-IM (2:14.46), while Lazarovich won the 200-breast in 2:30.64.

The teams split the relay events, with Wellesley winning the 200-medley relay and Mount Holyoke capturing the 200-free relay. Wellesley's winning team consisted of Kovacikova, first-tear Emily Sotomayor, Ren and Amirkhanashvili, while Mount Holyoke's winning team was made up of senior Nora Cunningham, senior Lindsey Kanno, Lazarovich and Pruden.

The diving events saw two NCAA qualifying scores reached, as Wellesley sophomore Gabby Cooper-Vespa recorded a 260.60 to win the 1-meter board, and junior Hayley Goydan won the 3-meter board with a 288.05. Goydan finished second on the 1-meter with a 253.70, while Cooper-Vespa earned second on the 3-meter with a 243.15.  

Mount Holyoke sophomore Catrina Bellucci-DiLizia earned third on both boards, recording a 220.60 on the 1-meter and a 211.55 on the 3-meter. Rounding out the diving action, Wellesley's Kathryn Goffin earned a 204.15 on the 3-meter, as each of the four divers surpassed the 200-point total.

The Blue return to Chandler Pool for their final home meet of the season on Saturday, February 2nd, hosting Bates and Connecticut College at 2:00pm. Mount Holyoke is also back in action on Saturday, hosting Smith College in a 1:00pm meet.