NEWMAC Championship Weekend Wrap-Up

Photo Courtesy: Frank Poulin

By Kelley Baylis, Swimming World College Intern

This past weekend marks the end of the 2014-2015 New England men’s and women’s swimming and diving seasons. NEWMACs took place February 19-22 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Here are the final scores from the weekend’s meet:

Women

Massachusetts Institute of Technology – 1,278 points
Springfield College – 840 points
Wellesley College – 751 points
Worcester Polytechnic Institute – 704 points
Wheaton College – 552 points
U.S. Coast Guard Academy – 477.5 points
Mount Holyoke College – 376.5 points
Smith College – 367 points
Clark University – 297 points
Babson College – 174 points

Men

MIT – 1,509 points
WPI – 1,066 points
U.S. Coast Guard Academy – 794 points
Springfield College – 671 points
Wheaton College – 587 points
Babson College – 385 points
Clark University – 233 points

Photo Courtesy: Frank Poulin

This was MIT’s fifth straight NEWMAC win for the women, and the seventh straight win for the men. Records were crushed across the boards for every team, as well as some NEWMAC meets records from swimmers Cathleen Pruden in the 400 IM, Dougie Kogut in the 200 backstroke and the 200 butterfly, and Christian Brindamour in the 100 free.

After the four-day meet, awards were presented to both swimmers and divers in the conference. Christian Brindamour, a senior from Coast Guard, as well as Dougie Kogut, a freshman from MIT, earned NEWMAC Co-Swimmers of the Year. Kogut was also named NEWMAC Rookie of the Year; Wheaton’s Ross Johnston was last years’ winner. NEWMAC Diver of the Year went to Springfield’s Jack Lewis.

Women’s 500 Free

In the women’s 500 freestyle, senior Emmie Ryan from MIT placed first overall with a time of 5:00.20. The top three women all qualified for the NCAA ‘B’ standard time which included Mary Thielking from MIT and Callie Phillips from Springfield.

Men’s 50 Free

The men’s 50 freestyle was an event to watch. Christian Brindamour took first place with a time of 20.25. Following close behind was Andrew Bauer from WPI with a time of 20.83, and Benjamin List, also from WPI, took third with 20.89.

Women’s 400 IM

Watching junior Cathleen Pruden win the 400 IM by seven seconds was incredible. She not only dropped eight seconds from her prelims time of 4:49.13, she then continued to make the NCAA ‘B’ cut by over 15 seconds. The IM was one of three events Pruden topped the podium with throughout the weekend. She placed first in the IM as well as the 1650 freestyle and the 200 IM. In the 400 IM Joanna Han finished second behind Pruden with a time of 4:28.71 and Callie Phillips finished third with a 4:33.83.

Although the 2014-2015 NEWMACs is finished, that doesn’t mean swimmers stop training. Many will continue training for NCAA Championships which take place March 18-21 at the CISD Natatorium in Shenandoah, Texas. Make sure to keep an eye out for sizzling swims from the NEWMAC!

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Karen Carlsson O'Brien

9 years ago

Nice writing Kelly!!