Swimming and Diving Falls to Wellesley on Senior Day

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Jan. 28, 2012) – The Mount Holyoke College swimming and diving team closed out its home slate with a 151-104 loss to Wellesley College this afternoon despite an outstanding individual effort from senior Lydia Bowers. Bowers figured in on four second place finishes for the Lyons, who fell to 5-3 on the year.

Prior to the competition, Bowers, Claire Gregg, Morgan Herrell, Sarah Rooney and Isa Wismann-Horther were honored for their contributions to the Mount Holyoke program over the last four years.

2012 Swimming and Diving Seniors After teaming up with first year Rui Nozaki, sophomore Lauren Williams and first year Maya Lazarovich to grab second place in the 800-yard medley relay (9:26.15), Bowers joined forces with Williams, Lazarovich and first year Rachel Boynton to place second in the 800-yard freestyle relay (8:18.73). The senior also finished second in both the 50-yard (26.14) and 100-yard (55.09) freestyle races.

Boynton chipped in with a second place performance in the 50-yard butterfly (29.57). Meanwhile, Williams finished third in the 50-yard backstroke (26.14), and Lazarovich matched the feat in the 500-yard freestyle (5:41.80).

Wellesley prevailed in all 14 events to improve to 7-2 in dual-meets thus far this season. The Blue were paced by first year Tiffany Chen, who touched the wall first three times. Her wins came in the 50-yard backstroke (30.04), the 100-yard backstroke (1:03.21) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:21.81).

Sophomores Keelin Nave and Mariam Amirkhanashvili also figured in on three wins apiece for the guests.

After combining with classmate Emma Mrkonic, first year Monica Gates and first year Grace Bachman to post the winning time in the 800-yard medley relay (9:15.23), Nave came out on top in both the 50-yard (25.52) and 100-yard (54.14) freestyle races.

Not to be outdone, Amirkhanashvili recorded individual wins in both the 50-yard breaststroke (28.06) and 100-yard butterfly (1:09.62) before closing out the day with a first place showing in the 800-yard freestyle relay (8:17.42). Her teammates for the race were sophomore Gabriela Kovacikova, senior Stephanie Welch and sophomore Megan Lambert.

Wellesley's remaining swimming victories came from senior Olivia Hulme (500-yard freestyle – 5:27.64) and first year Kendra Waters (100-yard breaststroke – 1:09.62).

The Blue also received a boost from sophomore Hayley Goydan, who swept the diving events with scores of 262.35 off the one-meter board and 263.62 off the three-meter board.

Both squads will put the finishing touches on their regular season schedules next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Mount Holyoke (5-3) will visit longtime rival Smith College, while Wellesley (7-2) will travel to Bates College for a tri-meet with Connecticut College.