COLCHESTER – The Saint Michael’s swimming and diving team won 11 of 13 events Friday night to knock off Merrimack College in the two teams’ first-ever meeting, 132-80.<\/p>\n
The Saint Michael’s College women’s swimming & diving team opposed Merrimack College for the first time on Friday, claiming a 132-80 victory in the Ross Sports Center. The Purple Knights improved to 2-1, while the Warriors were competing in their first dual meet of the season.<\/p>\n
In a meet that included only 13 events, including no diving competitions, Saint Michael’s won 11 races. Junior Julie Shea (Peabody, Mass.\/Peabody Veterans Memorial\/Assumption) played a role in four, including winning the 50-yard freestyle in 26.83 and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:12.49. She also swam for the winning 200 free and 200-yard medley relays. During the 200 medley, she sided with senior Kim Brady (Morris Township, N.J.\/Academy of Saint Elizabeth), sophomore Lindsay McNall (Colchester, Vt.\/Colchester) and first-year Theresa Murphy (Pittsfield, Mass.\/Pittsfield) for a time of 1:58.28 before joining Murphy, sophomore Katrina Wiesner (Bow, N.H.\/Bow) and first-year Sammy Sidorakis (Baldwinsville, N.Y.\/C.W. Baker) to clock in at 1:48.40 during the 200 free relay.<\/p>\n
The Purple Knights also had the runner-up quartets in both races, including as Brady, senior Steph Nadow (Charlton, Mass.\/Saint Peter-Marian) and first-years Ally Fischang (Oakland, Maine\/Messalonskee) and Coral Santos (Pawtucket, R.I.\/Saint Raphael Academy) were second in the 200 free relay by just 1.25 seconds. Fischang, Sidorakis, sophomore Lauren Wheaton (Dartmouth, Mass.\/Dartmouth) and first-year Katherine Lecce (Falls Church, Va.\/Saint Margaret’s School) were second in the 200 medley relay.<\/p>\n
Nadow won the 50-yard butterfly in 30.25 and the 100-yard backstroke at 1:05.13, following by Sidorakis in second during the 100 back. Wiesner touched the wall first in the 100 free at 57.37, with Fischang taking the runner-up spot. Fischang was victorious in the 100 fly with a time of 1:08.40, with senior Olivia Hamilton (Bourne, Mass.\/Bishop Stang) just 0.25 seconds behind in second. Hamilton won the 200-yard individual medley at 2:36.03, with Santos taking second place in that event in addition to the 50 fly and 200 free.<\/p>\n
McNall won the 50 back at 28.23, coming within 0.40 seconds of a school record, and Sidorakis was second. Wheaton won the 50-yard breaststroke in 33.31 and placed second in the 100 breast, Lecce was second in the 50 free, and first-year Betsy Portch (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.\/John Jay) took second in the 500 free.<\/p>\n
The Saint Michael’s men’s and women’s squads compete at three more events over four days during the coming eight days, beginning tomorrow at Clarkson University at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Highlighted by four first-place finishers, the Merrimack women’s swim team fell in a close match to Saint Michael’s, 132-80, on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n