Wheaton closes regular season with sweep over Gordon in men's and women's swimming and diving dual meet

February 15, 2003

NORTON, MA- Wheaton College men's and women's swimming and diving completed its 2002-2003 regular season this afternoon by sweeping Gordon College in a pair of dual meets in Balfour Natatorium. On the men's side, the Lyons defeated the Scots, 113-99, while the women were victorious, 154-103. With the wins, the men and women finish the regular season at 3-7 and 6-5, respectively.

A trio of school records fell on the day, including two on the men's side and one for the women. For the men, freshman John Kuckens (West Hartford, CT/Hall) smashed the 1,650-yard freestyle record with a time of 18:46.91, which was 17.48 seconds faster than the record set by Thys-Jan Tepper '00 in March of 1998. Junior co-captain Chris Hurley (Belfast, ME/Belfast Area) broke his own school record in the 500-yard free, finishing in a time of 5:05.43. On the women's side, first-year Cassie Bannell (Farmington, CT/Farmington) shattered her own school mark in the 50-yard backstroke, swimming the first leg of the 200-yard medley relay in 28.74.

Overall for the men, the Lyons picked up 10 individual victories on the day, including Kuckens' and Hurley's school record performances. Hurley scored two additional victories in the 50-yard freestyle (22.93) and the 100-yard individual medley (58.98). Also capturing three victories on the afternoon was sophomore Chris Klinkow (Hollis, NH/Hollis-Brookline), who won the 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard freestyle and 50-yard butterfly in times of 56.46, 51.02 and 25.41, respectively.

Rounding out the victories for the men was senior co-captain Chris Peterson (Ashland, MA/Ashland) in the 50-yard breaststroke (30.11), sophomore Aaron Beaulieu (Freeport, ME/Freeport) in the one-meter dive (154.90) and freshman Charles Sawyer (Brooklyn, NY/Beacon School) in the three-meter dive (152.95).

Including the school record for Bannell, 15 overall victories were claimed on the women's side, with 13 individual triumphs. In the relay events, Bannell, senior co-captain Meghan Sidoti (Middletown, CT/Middletown), sophomore Fiona McQuade (Pawcatuck, CT/Prout) and first-year Courtney Catalano (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) claimed victory in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:59.85. In the 200-yard free relay, Sidoti, Bannell, junior Katie Levine (Needham, MA/Needham) and freshman Lauren Pcholinski (Old Saybrook, CT/Old Saybrook) took top honors with a time of 1:47.08.

Individually for the Lyons, McQuade, Bannell, Pcholinski and junior Jessica Martin (Bridgton, ME/Lake Region) scored multiple victories on the afternoon. McQuade was victorious in the 50-yard breaststroke (35.10) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:16.12). Bannell won the 50-yard free (25.89) and the 50-yard butterfly (28.42) events, while Pcholinski took the 1,650-yard free (20:25.57) and 500-yard freestyle (5:53.13). Martin was victorious in the one and three-meter diving events, scoring 152.20 and 75.45 points, respectively.

Rounding out the individual victories was Sidoti in the 100-yard butterfly (1:06.14), Levine in the 100-yard free (58.85), sophomore Amanda Berthelette (Milford, NH/Milford) in the 100-yard backstroke (1:04.56), sophomore Nicole Bassaleh (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) in the 100-yard IM (1:09.79) and first-year Ashley Jankowski (Lincoln, RI/Lincoln) in the 50-yard backstroke (32.72).

The men and women next will compete in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships. The women take to the pool next weekend, beginning on Friday, February 21 and running through Sunday, February 23 at Wellesley College. The men start competition on Friday, February 28 and will complete the championships on Sunday, March 2 at MIT.

MEN
Name Event Time
Chris Hurley 50 freestyle 22.93
100 IM 58.98
500 freestyle 5:05.43
Chris Klinkow 50 butterfly 25.41
100 butterfly 56.46
100 freestyle 51.02
John Kuckens 1,650 freestyle 18:46.91
Chris Peterson 50 breaststroke 30.11

Name Event Score
Aaron Beaulieu 1m dive 154.90
Charles Sawyer 3m dive 152.95

WOMEN
Name Event Time
Cassie Bannell 50 freestyle 25.89
50 butterfly 28.42
Nicole Bassaleh 100 IM 1:09.79
Amanda Berthelette 100 backstroke 1:04.56
Ashley Jankowski 50 backstroke 32.72
Katie Levine 100 freestyle 58.85
Fiona McQuade 50 breaststroke 35.10
100 breaststroke 1:16.12
Lauren Pcholinski 500 freestyle 5:53.13
1,650 freestyle 20:25.57
Meghan Sidoti 100 butterfly 1:06.14
Bannell, McQuade, 200 medley relay 1:59.85
Sidoti, Catalano
Bannell, Levine, 200 freestyle relay 1:47.08
Pcholinski, Sidoti

Name Event Score
Jessica Martin 1m dive 152.20
Jessica Martin 3m dive 75.45

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