SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - The Mount Holyoke College swimming and diving team saw solid efforts across the board as the Lyons defeated the University of New England, 146-111 on Saturday at the MHC Natatorium. Leading the way was senior captain Cathleen Pruden, who notched an NCAA 'B' Cut in the 400-IM.
Pruden (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft School) opened the meet with a victory in the 1,000-yard freestyle, touching the wall in a time of 10:52.27. She also won the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:08.08 and was the first to the wall in the 400-IM - her signature event - with an NCAA B Cut of 4:30.35 (she swam exhibition for scoring purposes).
Additionally, Pruden helped the 200-yard freestyle relay team to the top time (exhibition for scoring purposes), notching a 1:47.32. Other members of the relay included junior captain Emily Craig (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chilli Senior), senior Erica Carvell (Chicago, Ill./Metea Valley) and junior Anne Kuenning (Bow, N.H./Bow).
Kuenning also had an outstanding afternoon individually, winning the 50-yard backstroke in a time of 30.20. She also claimed victory in the 100-yard back with a time of 1:04.97. Craig swam to victory in the 200-free with a time of 2:05.92, while sophomore Claire Beckett (Haslett, Mich./Haslett) won the 50-breast in a mark of 33.88.
Other strong efforts on the day included first year Bri Groves (Reston, Va./South Lakes), who captured the 100-free in a time of 56.94. She also won the 100-yard butterfly event, touching the wall in a time of 1:02.76.
Both Groves and Kuenning were instrumental in the Lyons opening victory in the 200-medley relay, as the foursome won in a time of 1:57.70. Other members included senior captain Sarah Crocker (Sacramento, Calif./C.K. McClatchy) and junior Katie Tyler (Hadley, Mass./Hopkins Academy).
For the University of New England, junior captain Lindsey Thomsen (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) won the 50-free with a time of 25.44. She also finished second to Pruden in the 100-breast (1:13.11). Sophomore Kayla Burgess (Kingston, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) won the 400-IM with a time of 5:17.01, while classmate Emily Chamberlin (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) won the 500-free in a time of 5:38.47.
The Nor'Easters also saw its foursome of junior Andrea Rybicki (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield Memorial), senior Britni Harris (Oceanside, Calif./Twentynine Palms), junior captain Eleni Bautz (Southborough, Mass./Southborough) and Thomsen earn first place in the 200-free relay with a time of 1:49.51.
Mount Holyoke returns to the water next Saturday, hosting Westfield State at 1pm. University of New England is back to the pool next Saturday as well, traveling to Husson for a 6pm meet.
