For the first time in the 80-year history of the women’s swim and dive program, the Tribe won the CAA Championships outright this past weekend at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., marking the first time any team, male or female, has done so. The men’s team also performed well, placing fourth overall on the strength of many excellent individual and team performances.
p. “As a team we were really excited to win because we were underdogs, because we don’t get much funding and don’t have scholarships like other conferences and teams,” freshman Katie Radloff said. “We were the underdogs and we went in and won by a decent amount. It was really exciting.”
p. In the 200-meter medley relay, senior captain Kelly Reitz, junior Meredith David, freshman Erin Welshofer and freshman Katie Radloff won the gold with a combined time of 1:44.00, breaking the previous conference record by .76 seconds. The 400-meter medley relay team also won their event, setting a new CAA record with a time of 3:47.48. The team included Reitz, David, Welshofer and senior captain Marnie Rognlien.
p. Reitz became the winningest swimmer in school history with her victory in the 100-meter breaststroke, having won six conference titles in her career at the College. Several swimmers performed well enough to receive NCAA qualifying times in various events.
p. The Tribe capped off their victory in the 400-meter freestyle relay.
p. The team, consisting of freshman Courtney Alles, sophomore Marina Falcone, Radloff and Rognlien, battled closely with Towson University’s relay team until the final leg. Rognlien pulled away for the victory as the team set new school and conference meet records with their time of 3:24.84.
p. Radloff was named Performer of the Meet, as she helped to pave the way for her team’s overall victory by winning six of the team’s 12 gold medals. Behind the strength of the team’s overall performance, Head Coach McGee Moody was named the Women’s Coach of the Year.
p. On the men’s side, sophomore Shawn Matthews won the bronze in the 500-meter freestyle, with a time of 4:35.85. He went on to win the bronze in the 200-meter backstroke.
p. Sophomores Jason Brisson and David Mangini took first and second in the consolation finals for the 200 IM. In a very competitive 100-meter breaststroke, Brisson was beaten out by a mere .02 seconds but took home the silver in the event with a personal best time of 57.12 seconds. Brisson also won the silver in the 200-meter breaststroke.
p. In the mile swim event, sophomore Jeff Collier won the bronze medal with a time of 15:59.82.
