Men's swimming and diving wins first dual meet of season, 118-92 over UMass-Dartmouth; Women edge Corsairs, 119-117

January 14, 2003

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's swimming and diving team won its first dual meet of the season, defeating UMass-Dartmouth, 118-92 at Balfour Natatorium Tuesday evening. The women completed the sweep, edging the Corsairs, 119-117. The Lyon men are now 1-4 overall, while the women improve to 4-3 on the season. The UMass-Dartmouth men drop to 2-6 on the year, while the women fall to 5-3.

Capturing eight individual events on the night, the men easily outdistanced themselves from the Corsairs. Junior Patrick Sagui (Westwood, MA/Westwood) started the string of wins for the Lyons, claiming victory in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:00.07. A one-two finish in the 200-yard individual medley then bolstered the Blue and White, as junior co-captain Chris Hurley (Belfast, ME/Belfast Area) and senior co-captain Chris Peterson (Ashland, MA/Ashland) registered times of 2:10.16 and 2:18.43, respectively. Hurley was also victorious in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 57.98.

Freshman Charles Sawyer (Brooklyn, NY/Beacon School) followed with the first of his two victories on the platform, scoring 189.05 points in the one-meter diving event. He later posted a winning score of 147.15 in the three-meter dive. First-year John Kuckens (West Hartford, CT/Hall) recorded the first of two victories in the 100-yard freestyle. Later in the 500-yard free, Kuckens had a personal-best time of 5:25.01 in the win. Sophomore Chris Klinkow (Hollis, NH/Hollis-Brookline) rounded out the eight individual victories with a triumph in the 100-yard butterfly. In the final event of the meet, Klinkow, Sagui, Hurley and Kuckens posted the fastest time in the 400-yard freestyle relay, finishing with a time of 3:32.14.

Ironically, the women's meet came down to the final race, the 400-yard freestyle relay. Trailing 113-106, the Lyons needed the top mark followed by a second or third place finish to capture the victory. Wheaton earned the best mark, thanks to senior co-captain Meghan Sidoti (Middletown, CT/Middletown), junior Katie Levine (Needham, MA/Needham) and freshmen Lauren Pcholinski (Old Saybrook, CT/Old Saybrook) and Cassie Bannell (Farmington, CT/Farmington), winning the 400 free in a time of 3:55.03.

The Blue and White then clinched the victory when the relay team, comprised of junior Jenna Gustafson (New Hartford, CT/St. Paul Catholic), sophomores Nicole Bassaleh (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) and Blake Worrall (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) and first-year Alexandra Cheney (Santa Monica, CA/Marymount) finished third overall, giving the Lyons the needed points to capture the team win.

The women also benefited by one-two finishes in three events, including the 200-yard medley relay, the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard free events. In the 200-yard medley relay, Bannell, Cheney, sophomore Fiona McQuade (Pawcatuck, CT/Prout) and freshman Courtney Catalano (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) teamed for a time of 2:01.76. They were followed by Sidoti, Bassaleh, sophomore Amanda Berthelette (Milford, NH/Milford) and freshman Stephanie Abbati (Branford, CT/Branford), finishing second with a time of 2:03.20.

In the 50-yard free, Bannell posted the winning time of 26.68, followed by Cheney in 26.97. In the 100-yard free, it was Worrall edging Levine with times of 58.74 and 58.87, respectively. Also picking up victories was Pcholinski in the 1000-yard freestyle and Worrall in the 200-yard free with a personal-best time of 2:07.59.

The men and women will return to action this Saturday, January 18, when they host Trinity College in an afternoon dual meet. Meet time is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.

Following is a complete list of individual and relay wins for the Lyons:
MEN
Name Event Time
Chris Hurley 200 individual medley 2:10.16
100 backstroke 57.98
John Kuckens 100 freestyle 53.27
500 freestyle 5:25.01
Patrick Sagui 200 freestyle 2:00.07
Chris Klinkow 100 butterfly 58.48
Hurley, Kuckens, 400 freestyle relay 3:32.14
Sagui, Klinkow

Name Event Score
Charles Sawyer 1m dive 189.05
3m dive 147.15

WOMEN
Name Event Time
Blake Worrall 100 freestyle 58.74
200 freestyle 2:07.59
Lauren Pcholinski 1000 freestyle 11:59.03
Cassie Bannell 50 freestyle 26.68
Bannell, McQuade, 200 medley relay 2:01.76
Catalano, Cheney
Levine, Sidoti, 400 freestyle relay 3:55.03
Pcholinski, Bannell

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