Sports |

Women’s swim team picks up two wins against Stony Brook and Fairfield

By Dana Bulba

Posted on Thursday, November 15th, 2007, 12:00 am

The University of Maine women’s swimming and diving team picked up two more wins this weekend during their doubleheader against Stony Brook and Fairfield University and remained undefeated with a 3-0 record.

Two wins each by Mimi Chovanec and Courtney Healey helped secure the women’s 175-125 win against Stony Brook on Saturday. Chovanec won the 200-freestyle (1:59.09) and the 500-freestyle (5:11.15) while Healey dominated the backstroke by taking the win in both the 100 (1:01.45) and the 200 (2:10.59).

The first individual event went to Maine as the women finished 1-2-3 in the 1000-freestyle. Caitlin Shelley captured the win in a time of 10:56.52, ahead of Colleen Miller (11:01.60) and Lily Herbold (11:07.58).

UMaine took the two top spots in the 200-butterfly, as Adi Levy finished first in a time of 2:11.93, followed by Kiki O’Donnell (2:17.78). O’Donnell also finished second in both the 500-freestyle (5:18.93) and 200-yard IM (2:15.65).

On Sunday, Maine traveled to Connecticut where the women schooled the Fairfield Stags, 163-80.

Shelley won the 200-freestyle in 2:14.60 and the 100-breaststroke (1:18.24).

“It’s great to have a freshman [like Caitlin] proving herself and motivating us so early in the season,” Mackenzie Grobmyer said.

The women went 1-2-3 again on Sunday, as the 100-butterfly’s top spots went to Miller (1:08.45), Grobmyer (1:09.74) and Nissa Marione (1:11.86).

Wins by Levy in the 800-freestyle (9:30.27) and O’Donnell in the 200-IM (2:31.97) also helped the Black Bears secure their win.

The diving team dominated the boards, as UMaine’s Megan Barrett placed first in the one-meter diving competition and Laura Williamson second. The women followed by going 1-2-3 in the three-meter diving competition as Samantha Graham took first and Barrett and Williamson followed with second and third place finishes.

The women’s team will return to Wallace Pool on Sunday, Nov. 18 to host Vermont.

The men’s swimming and diving team won their first meet of the season this past weekend during their doubleheader as they beat Fairfield, 138-102. They fell to Stony Brook in the second matchup, 177-118.

Jeremy Bender took first in three events, winning the 200-butterfly (2:03.03), the 500-yard freestyle (4:58.38) and the 200-yard IM (2:07.72).

Tyler Cox also took some top spots in the breaststroke events, winning the 200 with a time of 2:24.37 and taking second in the 100 (1:06.08).

Cully Wakelin, John Quinn, Mike Goede and Kevin Staples finished the meet by taking first in the 200-freestyle relay in a time of 1:30.91. Earlier in the meet, Wakelin placed second in the 100-freestyle (49.50).

On Sunday the men started out strong in Connecticut as they took first and third in the 200-medley relay. Kevin Staples, Wakelin, Nicholas Ruckman and Goede won the event in a time of 1:54.78. Teammates Tyler Isherwood, Cox, David LaMarche and Doug Moulton followed for third (2:00.25).

Bender set the pace of the individual events directly after the relay with a win in the 800m freestyle (9:05.99); he also came in second in the 100m butterfly (1:04.31).

Quinn placed second in the 200m freestyle (2:06.24), and Cox followed close behind to place third (2:07.14).

“We stayed focused even though there were factors that could have distracted us – the meet the day before, the entire weekend of travel, the pool measuring in meters instead of yards,” Cox said.

On the diving board, Keith Burgie and Isaac Forbes faired well at both meets. Burgie took first in the one-meter competition at Fairfield and placed second in every other diving competition of the weekend. Forbes took third in both the one-meter and three-meter at Stony Brook and third in the one-meter at Fairfield.

Both teams will face Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Monday, Nov. 19. b