Things Going Swimmingly for Holbrook’s Phinney
BROCKTON — Sophomore Loren Phinney has been a consistent winner for the Bridgewater State University women’s swimming and diving team this season.
The Holbrook resident has finished first in three events at five meets for the Bears, and she has been a double winner on four other occasions.
"She just wants to do the best she can for the team," said BSU coach John Pringle. "From my perspective, it's nice to know you have someone like that who you can always rely on."
Phinney will conclude her season the weekend of Feb. 18-20 at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships, to be held at White River Junction, Vt.
The Holbrook High graduate is expected to compete in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 1,650 freestyle races in addition to four relays.
Phinney has won the 100 and 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle against Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Plymouth State and Western New England. She was first in the 50 and 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke against UMass-Dartmouth and won the 100, 500 and 1,650 freestyle races at the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational.
She had two wins in meets against Babson College, Westfield State, Elms and Roger Williams.
"She's one of the better swimmers in the (NEISDA)," said Pringle. "She's probably among the top 12. She's looking forward to getting to the championships and seeing how she can do."
Phinney, who is seeded sixth in the 1,650 event, was able to compete in just one race at the New Englands last year before an illness sidelined her the rest of the weekend.
"She had a real quality year as a freshman, and then got ill and couldn't swim after one event," said Pringle. "I'm sure it was disappointing for her, but you wouldn't have known it. She kept a positive attitude for the rest of her teammates. She always takes things in stride."
Phinney began winning right away for the Bears, netting three victories in her debut meet as a freshman in October 2009.
Against Assumption College, Phinney was first in the 50 and 200 freestyle races and the 200 backstroke. In the second meet of her career, Phinney placed first in the 100 butterfly and the 500 freestyle and has been a consistent point-getter for BSU ever since.
Chappron earns honor: BSU senior guard Brittney Chappron was named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the week in women's basketball. Chappron had 27 points and connected on a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime in a win over Fitchburg State. The Bears host Framingham State is a makeup game on Thursday night at the Tinsley Center. … Stonehill College Bryan Rooney was selected as the hockey rookie of the week in the Northeast-10 Conference against getting three goals and an assist in two games. … BSU sophomore Stephan Cawley was chosen as the indoor field athlete of the week in the MASCAC after breaking his own school record in the shot put at the Tufts Invitational. He finished first with a distance of 48 feet, 0.75 inches and has qualified for the New England Div. 3, the ECAC Div. 3 and the New England Intercollegiate Athletic Association meets.