Women's Swimming & Diving Sweeps Double Dual Meet

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's swimming and diving team swept a double dual meet on Saturday afternoon at the Moriarty Pool in Bridgewater.

The Bears (7-5) posted a 168-68 win over Rhode Island College (0-4) and edged Plymouth State University (2-5) by a margin of 143-128.  Plymouth earned a 176-61 triumph over RIC.

Eight different swimmers won individual events for host Bridgewater.  The Bears also grabbed top honors in the 200 freestyle relay with senior Nelia Borden (Westport, Mass.), juniors Kendra Perry (Middleboro, Mass.) and Sarah Rechtiene (Southbury, Conn.), and sophomore Allison Cuccoli (Westwood, Mass.) posting a time of 1:51.17.

Perry also placed first in the 1,000 freestyle (12:22.78), while Rechtiene touched the wall first in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.09).

Also posting first place finishes for the Bears were senior Ariel Gillis (Blackstone, Mass.) in the 200 freestyle (2:23.31), freshman Mikaela Ross (Andover, Mass.) in the 50 backstroke (32.30), freshman Sarah Biltcliffe (Fall River, Mass.) in the 50 breaststroke (33.53), sophomore Michaela Pereira (Rehoboth, Mass.) in the 100 freestyle (1:01.20), senior Chelsea Nolan (Lowell, Mass.) in the 500 freestyle (5:51.66) and senior Kimberly Minnette (South Easton, Mass.) in the 50 butterfly (31.34).

Senior Sophie Kanno (Cranston, R.I.) was a multi-event winner for the Anchorwomen of RIC as she placed first in both the 50 freestyle (27.31) and the 100 individual medley (1:06.85).

Plymouth State senior Shannon Rogers (Beverly, Mass.) won both diving events with scores of 192.41 points on the one-meter board and 186.00 points on the three-meter.  Junior Sam Carberry (Shrewsbury, Mass.) also won a pair of events for the Panthers as she placed first in the 100 butterfly (1:06.40) and the 100 backstroke (1:07.69).

The PSU foursome of Carberry, freshmen Meaghan Doherty (Charlestown, Mass.) and Jessie Blake (Portland, Maine), and sophomore Kelly Merkle (Salem, N.H.) finished first in the meet-opening 200 medley relay (2:08.84).

The Bears return to the pool on Sunday, January 19th when they travel to Westfield State University to take on the Owls at one.