Bentley Coach Mary Kay Samko Notches Historic Dual Meet Win Over UMass-Dartmouth

WALTHAM, Massachusetts, November 17. BENTLEY University men's and women's swimming and diving coach Mary Kay Samko registered her 300th dual meet win with the Falcons Saturday afternoon when the Bentley women topped UMass-Dartmouth, 126-92, at the Dana Center pool.

The win total grew to 301 minutes later when the men's team completed a sweep of the Corsairs, 132-73. Samko, in 17 years at Bentley, has a women's record of 174-55 and a men's mark of 127-57 for a combined 301-112.

Junior Amanda Le (Chelmsford/Chelmsford HS), senior Monika Drogosz (Unionville, Conn./ Farmington HS) and freshman Nicola Mancini (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth HS) each played significant roles in the milestone victory.

Mancini exceeded the qualifying standards for the NCAA Division II Championships for the second straight meet while winning both diving events. She posted a score of 263.90 on the one-meter board and followed with a 279.10 on the three-meter.

Le and Drogosz both helped Bentley get off to a positive start with a win in the 400 yard medley relay, combining with junior Caroline Lewis (Westfield/Westfield HS) and senior Jessica Hodsdon (Brewer, Maine/Brewer HS) for a time of 4:13.20.

Le also registered victories in the 400 individual medley (4:50.71) and the 200 breaststroke (2:28.59). Drogosz captured the 200 freestyle in 2:03.64, and led off the Falcons' winning 400 free relay team.

Bentley's other individual winners were Hodsdon in the 50 free (25.99), Lewis in the 200 back (2:20.58), sophomore Danielle Hellstern (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug HS) in the 100 free (56.96) and freshman Michelle Giordano (Alfred, Maine/Cheverus HS) in the 1000 free (12:19.72).

Freshman Owen Karl (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton HS) was a double-winner and seven others also had first-place finishes in individual events as the Bentley University men's swimming team improved to 4-0 with a 132-73 win over UMass-Dartmouth Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center pool.

The win was the 301st Bentley victory for coach Mary Kay Samko, who also gained her 300th Saturday when the women's team bested the Corsairs.

Karl's victories came in the 200 yard freestyle and the 500 free, with times of 1:54.39 and 5:14.45, respectively.

Bentley also had the winning performance in the other four freestyle races. Senior George Go (Manila, Phillipines) took the 50 in 22.94, freshman Sebastian Bury (Bellevue, Wash./Newport Senior HS) was the first to the wall in the 100 (50.58) and senior Tyler Champagne (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional HS) captured the 1000 in 10:42.99.

Bury, Champagne and Go also swam the first three legs of Bentley's first-place 400 free relay team, with senior Mike Simoneau (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville Wheaton South HS) handling the closing leg. Bury also helped the Falcons to a win in the 400 medley relay.

Also winning individual events for the Falcons were freshmen Alex Liulakis (Tenafly, N.J./ Tenafly HS) in the 400 individual medley (4:33.82) and Colton Bridge (Tolland, Conn./Tolland HS) in the one-meter diving (230.15), senior Mike Culkin (Avon, Conn./Avon HS) in the 200 butterfly (2:14.58) and sophomore Josh Witty (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos HS) in the 200 back (2:04.70).

Bentley, which improved to 4-0, will compete in the Pace Invitational Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

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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