Blue Swimming & Diving Tops Simmons, 171-91

WELLESLEY, Mass. — The Wellesley College swimming and diving team raced to a 171-91 victory over Simmons College on Saturday afternoon at Chandler Pool. The win moves the Blue to 2-0 overall, and at Chandler Pool, early in the 2014-15 season. Simmons is now 4-1 after falling for the first time this year. 

The day got off to an exciting start, as Wellesley's 'A' team of sophomore Sharon Wu, first year Sophia Dillon-Davidson, sophomore Hannah Augst and senior Keelin Nave raced to a tightly contested victory in the 200-Medley Relay, finishing with a time of 1:55.03, just ahead of Simmons' 'A' team of Miriam Swisher, Natalie Giraldi, Michaela Morris and Hillary Wong, who finished at 1:55.45.

Senior Tiffany Chen and junior Misha Olynk then took the top two times in the 1000-Free, as Chen won the event at 11:45.06 and Olynyk touched the wall with a time of 11:49.15. 

Nave grabbed the third Blue victory of the day in the 200-Free, leading Wellesley's top four finishers with a time of 1:56.29, finishing as the only participant with a time under 2:00. Nave would also race to victory in the 50-Free, finishing a half second ahead of teammate Leah Furhman with a time of 25.27, as well as the 100-Fly with a time of 59.86.

Furhman would get her own victory later in the day in the 200-Back, touching the wall with a time of 2:18.56. 

Swisher then delivered the Sharks first victory of the day in the 100-Back, with a time of 1:01.24. Swisher would also grab a win in the 100-Free with a time of 55.70, as the Sharks swept the top-three spots in that event. Swisher had a hand in all three of the Simmons victories on the afternoon. 

Junior Erin Yang scored the next Blue victory, topping Simmons' Natalie Giraldi in the 100-Breast with a time of 1:10.27. Giraldi finished just behind her with a time of 1:12.06. In addition to the victory int he 100, junior Charlotte Harris captured another Blue victory in the 200-Breast with a time of 2:32.83. 

Wellesley junior Dorothy Ren also had an excellent day in the pool for the Blue, racing to three victories in the 200-Fly with a time of 2:17.81, the 500-Free (5:32.09) and the 200 IM (2:15.78). The Blue swept the top-three spots in the 200 IM as Ren came in ahead of Harris (2:19.68) and Yang (2:23.41).

The Sharks took the official victory in the final event of the day, the 200-Free Relay, as Swisher, Chloe Davis, Sarah Price and Jordan Mattheisen finished with at time of 1:45.28. The Simmons time was second only to the Wellesley 'B' team comprised of seniors Tiffany Chen, Bachman, Nave and diver Gabby Cooper-Vespa who, racing as an exhibition, finished the event with the top time of 1:44.86. 

Wellesley will travel to nearby MIT for their next dual meet on Friday at 7:00 PM. Simmons will return to the pool in December when the host Babson on Tuesday the 2nd at 6:00 PM.