by: Connor Schneider
The Maine men and women’s swimming and diving teams swept the University of Rhode Island (URI) over the weekend. The men’s team competed at home while the women’s team traveled to URI. Both teams showed incredible depth and handily defeated their opponents.
Women take meet 180-118
The Maine women were the clear victors of the swim and dive meet against the University of Rhode Island on Oct. 24 in Rhode Island. They dominated URI with a total of 180 points to 118 points. It was a strong showing for the team’s opening meet of the season.
The meet showed a great level of depth for the Maine women. The opening event, the 200-yard medley relay, was won by the Black Bears with a time of 1:50.47. In second place, finishing exactly .01 seconds later, was the Maine ‘B’ team. URI’s ‘A’ team finished in third with a time of 1:50.57. The depth of the team was further demonstrated by individual performances, such as the 500-yard freestyle. In the top six entrants, only one participant from URI placed, finishing in fourth. First-year Shayla Kleisinger finished first for Maine with a time of 5:11.47. After her came first-year Alison Brodt (finishing with 5:14.51), and first-year Gaby Murphy (5:18.14). Jenna E Kirchoff was the first URI swimmer to finish, with a time of 5:25.05.
The 200-yard butterfly also showed the layers of talent on the Maine roster. Second-year Victoria Kingston took first place, finishing with a time of 2:11.55. Second-year fourth-year Emma Pontius (2:11.89) and fourth-year Taylor Sharp (2:14.22) rounded out the top three places for the Black Bears, and ensured a decisive Maine victory.
Of the 16 overall events, the Maine women came in first in all but five. They won the 200-yard medley relay, The 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard freestyle, the 100-yard breaststroke, the 200-yard breaststroke, the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, the 500-yard freestyle, the 100-yard butterfly, the 200-yard IM and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
First-year swimmer Shayla Kleisinger,, had a blistering performance with three individual victories. She completed the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:41.76, 13 seconds ahead of second place finisher, fellow Black Bear Alison Brodt. Kleisinger won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:11.47, and placed first in the 200-yard IM with 2:13.28. First-year swimmer Emma Blackdeer also had a very strong performance. She participated in four events and won two of them, the 100-yard breaststroke, and the 200-yard breaststroke with times of 1:07.34 and 2:25.15 respectively. She also swam the second leg of the Maine ‘A’ 200-yard medley relay that won the event. In the 200-yard IM she placed fourth (2:17.29). Second-year swimmer Chloe Adams, won all three events in which she was entered. She came in first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.62), the 100-yard freestyle (54.34) and she was the anchor on the ‘A’ team that won the 200-yard freestyle relay with a split time of 1:39.37.
Men finishing first in 11 of 16 events
The Maine men’s swim and dive team competed against the University of Rhode Island on Saturday, Oct. 24. Maine dominated the meet with a score of 161 to URI’s 99 points. Overall, they demonstrated strong individual performances and team depth, which resulted in their clear cut victory.
The men started off the meet on a strong note, winning the 200-yard medley relay. Not only did the ‘A’ team place first with a time of 1:37.00, but it was followed by the ‘B’ team (1:41.92), and then by the Maine ‘C’ team (1:44.26). The first placing URI team came in fourth.
Maine’s men’s team had the top finisher in 11 of the 16 events. They won the 200-yard medley relay, the 1,000-yard freestyle, the 200-yard freestyle, the 100-yard backstroke, the 100-yard breaststroke, the 200-yard butterfly, the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard backstroke, the 200-yard breaststroke and the 3-meter dive.
First- year swimmer Coulter Morrill helped lead the Black Bears to their eventual win, participating in four events and finishing in first in three of them. Morrill began the meet as the second leg on the winning ‘A’ team for the 200-yard medley relay, swimming a 28.01 for his portion. Morrill won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:47.14 and the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:14.71. His final performance of the day was as the lead on the 200-yard freestyle relay for the Maine ‘D’ team, who finished fourth with an overall time of 1:31.85. Second-year swimmer Connor Mayhew also performed in four events, leading off the 200-yard medley relay ‘B’ team that finished in second to the Maine ‘A’ team. He finished second in the 100-yard backstroke (56.58), first in the 200-yard backstroke (1:59.89) and was the third leg for the 200-yard freestyle relay ‘A’ team.
The team exhibited not only strong individual performances, but the depth necessary to secure the top several places in many events. The 1,000-yard freestyle saw the top three places filled by Alec Penn, Ben Hebert and Jon Maurer, all Black Bears. The 200-yard freestyle was dominated by Maine, with Coulter placing first, and Taylor Ottman, Tim Edison and Matt England all finishing before URI’s first swimmer. Led by Shane Kinnon, the Black Bears placed first through fourth in the 100-yard backstroke as well. In the 100-yard freestyle, won by Tim Edison with a time of (49.9), Maine took the top seven places.
Both teams will travel to Vermont on Nov. 7. They will look to continue on their powerful performance with another win.
