West Chester Opens Strong Against Southern Connecticut State, Shippensburg

WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania, October 5. BOTH Alexis Walley and Megan Winslow won an individual event and played a part in a pair of relay wins as West Chester University's women's swimming & diving squad opened the 2012-13 season inside Graham Natatorium with a dominating performance on day one Friday.

West Chester won all but one of the 11 events on day one of the opening tri-meet with Southern Connecticut State and Shippensburg, but took second, third and fifth in the 100-yard butterfly.

The Golden Rams' placed first and second in the 200 medley relay to lead off the day. Winslow, Amelia Buckley, Walley and Emily Stang were part of the “A” squad that touched out first in 1 minute, 52.03 seocnds. Jess Healy, Alexis Grier, Lauren Carastro and Annemarie Ruberti were part of the “B” squad that was runner-up in 1:54.29.

Walley and Carastro went first and second in the 200 freestyle as well. Walley touched in 1:56.98 while Carastro was right behind her in 1:57.06. Codyanne Murtaugh and Mackey McGeary finished third and fourth as the Rams swept the top four spots.

Kacie McNichol, Lauren Keenan and Kim Brownrigg went 1, 2 and 3 in the 400 Individual Medley. McNichol won in 4:40.86 while Keenan (4:49.64) and Brownrigg (4:51.40) were right behind her.

Though Southern Connecticut State's Amanda Thomas was the only winner not wearing purple & gold Friday, Buckley, Mia Barone and Megan Corcoran were second, third and fifth in the 100 butterfly. Buckley posted a time of 1:02.07 while Barone (1:02.22) and Corcoran (1:03.31) were right there.

Winslow's individual win came in the 100 backstroke (1:01.04). Jess Healy was third (1:02.56). The Golden Rams' 500 free was another event that saw them sweep the top three spots. Grier was the winner in 5:09.87 while Kendall Somer (5:15.15) and Ruberti (5:19.68) showed off the Rams' depth.

Winslow, Ruberti, Murtaugh and Stang made up the 200 free relay team that won in 1:41.05 while Carastro, Walley, Corcoran and Barone were part of the “B” team that was runner-up as well.

Somer won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:09.65 while Kristina Ciatto (1:10.28) and Dani Barron (1:11.52) finished second and third. Carastro, Walley, Stang and McNichol made up the 800 free relay team that won the final event of the day in 7:56.81.

Up on North Campus in Hollinger Field House, Michelle Heinemann won the 1-meter springboard diving competition, and teammate Kelsey Tennett won the 3-meter event. Heinemann posted 242.25 points while Michelle Murphy was runner-up with 208.15 and Tennett third with 203.65.

Tennett won the 3-meter with 252 points. Heinemann was second with 240.40.

Day two of the season-opening tri-meet will get under way at Graham Natatorium on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Calvin Starosta was part of a pair of winning relay squads and also won the 100 back as West Chester University opened its 2012-13 swimming & diving season with a strong outing against Southern Connecticut State and Shippensburg.

West Chester won eight of 11 events on the first day of competition while taking the top three spots in the 500-yard freestyle and both diving events. The Golden Rams took second, third and fourth in the 200 free as well.

Starosta helped the Rams' “A” team win the 200 medley relay in a time of 1 minute, 36.49 seconds. He led off a team consisting of Ryan Stahley, Bogdan Grebenyuk and Tommy Rhoads. He also swam the second leg of the 200 free relay that won in a time of 1:27.50. Rhoads and Stahley teamed up with him in that relay, along with Alex Muraro. Starosta then won the 100 backstroke in 54.84 seconds. Teammate Phil Letcavage was second in 55.07.

A pair of freshmen and a sophomore captured the top three spots in the 500 free as Bradley Strathmeyer led West Chester's trio to the wall in 4:47.54. Jared Haley was second in 4:53.34 while Vinny Termin was third in 4:59.57.

Rhoads was runner-up in the 200 free with a time of 1:45.81, touching just ahead of Strathmeyer (1:47.20) and Haley (1:47.72).

Chris Murphy won both boards in the diving competition up on North Campus in Hollinger Field House. Murphy earned 265.85 points on the 1-meter springboard, outdistancing Jonas Raider's 236 points. Zach Burns was third with 205.25. Murphy also won the 3-meter board with 238.85 points. Kurt van Mol was second (204.75) and Burns was third (202.60).

David McCormick and J.J. Rudisill placed second and third, respectively, in the 400 Individual Medley. McCormick posted a time of 4:22.47 while Rudisill timed out in 4:30.44.

Stahley was runner-up in the 100 butterfly with a time of 53.75. Luke Maguire was third in 53.95. Grebenyuk clocked a time of 58.82 seconds to win the 100 breaststroke.

West Chester's 800 free relay won the last event of day one in a time of 7:11.82. Rhoads, Letcavage, Strathmeyer and Haley teamed up for that win.

Day two of the season-opening tri-meet will get under way at Graham Natatorium on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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