Led by 21st-year head coach Dave Allen, the Mount Holyoke swimming & diving team had a strong run in 2018-19. The Lyons posted wins over the University of New England, Westfield State, Clark and Smith, finished fourth at Seven Sisters and were eighth at the NEWMAC Championships.
MHC rebounded from a tough season-opening loss to Assumption with a victory over the Nor'Easters at home. The Lyons saw a number of multiple-win efforts, including sophomore Tamara Mukulu as she won the 50-free, the 100-free and helped the 200-medley relay to victory to open the meet.
The Lyons made it two in a row with a win over Westfield State which saw sophomore Ashton Bliss win the 1000-free and the 50-butterfly. Junior Samantha Nemivant was also victorious off both the 1 and 3-meter boards, earning an NCAA Qualifying mark on the 3-meter.
Following a tough loss against Wellesley, MHC closed out the month of November with a sixth-place finish at the Hamilton Invitational. Upon its return from the annual winter break trip to Florida, the Lyons were back in the pool in January against Clark and Wheaton, coming away with a 140-99 win against the Cougars.
Just a few days later saw Mount Holyoke once again in tri-meet action, this time hosting Vassar and Trinity at the MHC Natatorium. The Lyons shouldered tough losses to both teams, but saw Nemivant earn the win in the 3-meter diving event.
Next up for MHC was the Seven Sisters Championships as the Lyons took fourth overall behind a number of solid finishes. Nemivant earned her first championship titles with NCAA Qualifying scores off both boards. MHC closed out the regular season with a 156-143 victory over Smith as Nemivant won both events, while sophomore Katie Kolozsvari qualified for the NCAA Diving Regional Championships for the first time.
The Lyons closed out the team season at the NEWMAC Championships, hosted this year by WPI. Highlighting the efforts during the long four days of action was sophomore Jacqueline Park, whofinished 18th overall in the consolation finals. Nemivant was sixth off both boards.
Nemivant and Kolozsvari went on to represent MHC at the 2019 NCAA New England Diving Regionals. Both finished well as Nemivant was 11th and 12th on the 1 and 3-meter boards, while Kolozsvari was 19th respectively in both events.
Academically, six student-athletes were on the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Team, while the squad garnered CSCAA Scholar All-America honors once again. The Lyons concluded the Fall 2018 semester with a grade point average of 3.58. Additionally, senior captain Delany Berry was named to the NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
