The University of Maine women’s swim team jumped into action this past Saturday as they hosted the University of Vermont Catamounts at the Stanley M. Wallace pool. The Black Bears looked to build off their recent win against Maine Maritime Academy.
The meet began with the 200-yard medley relay with four relay units from each side. Ultimately, the team of third-year captain Madison Edwards, fifth-year Kayla Loughman, second-year Isabelle Irani and fifth-year Kennedy Kilger brought home the top prize with a time of 1:49.92.
Following that was the 1,000-yard freestyle. The Catamounts dominated the event with the three fastest times amongst the pack, led by third-year Ella Church with a finishing time of 10:38.27. In the 200-yard freestyle, Catamount third-year Jackie House picked up points for her team at 1:56.63.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, the Black Bears notched the three fastest times, but it was fifth-year Kayla Loughman who came out the victor with an official time of 1:06.25. Shortly after,
Vermont bounced back in the 200-yard butterfly when third-year Hally Laney won her respective heat with a time of 2:07.95.
Moving into the freestyle events, the Catamounts started to take over. First-year Havana Layton secured crucial points for her team, posting a winning time of 24.62 in the 50-yard freestyle. Shortly after, teammate House won her second event of the day in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.26.
The Catamounts won the 200-yard backstroke event. Second-year Emma Wainwright won her heat by more than a second with a time of 2:10.26. Not too far after, in the 200-yard breaststroke, Kayla Loughman picked up her second win of the way with a time of 2:25.70 to go along with her medley win earlier.
House dominated the 500-yard freestyle. Her third event win of the day came when she posted a time of 5:08.03. The momentum would not stop for the Catamounts. Laney picked up her second win of the day with a time of 57.83 and continued the momentum for Vermont.
Moving into the diving events, the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events looked very similar. They were both won by first-year Tannah Proudfoot of the Catamounts with scores of 251.03 and 278.78.
The 200-yard individual medley was indeed a thriller. After an extremely close finish, by less than a second, Laneynotched her third victory of the day for Vermont with a time of 2:11.08. Laney edged out first-year Eva Welsh, who finished in second at 2:11.30.
The event concluded with the 200-yard freestyle relay. The Black Bears continued their success within the relays and were able to pick up the win here as well. Loughman and Kilger returned to the pool for their second victories, while third-year Hannah Deighan and second-year Mia Poirier got into the win column themselves.
The Black Bears could not secure the overall win and fell to the Catamounts by a final score of 170-127. The Black Bears return to the pool next Saturday to take on the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
