VESTAL, N.Y. (October 14, 2015) -- In its first contest of the 2015-16 season, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point women's swimming and diving team earned two wins in a tri-meet in Vestal, N.Y., Oct. 10.
The Black Knights defeated Binghamton 225-59 and skated past Vermont by a score of 167-131.
"It was a great opening meet for the Army team," said head coach Mickey Wender. "I am very proud of our performance. This team brings a level of professionalism and ambition that is going to take us a long way. I was very proud of our plebes in the way they stepped up in their first collegiate meet. They were great and really took ownership of what they were trying to do and contributed a tremendous amount in the pool and on the deck. It was a great team win in a competitive meet against the Vermont which came down to the last two events with Jess Burkett winning the 200 Individual Medley and team win in the 400 free relay."
Army placed first in 10-of-16 races and had multiple Cadets with three-plus wins.
The Black Knights were first off the blocks in the 200 medley relay and the team of Cadets Kelly Hamilton, Jess Fabrizio, Molly Mucciarone and Rachel Kim joined together to touch the wall in 1:47.07. The Black Knights' "B" squad of Cadets Cecelia Croman, Kara Wineinger, Teresa Groton and Jen Clay placed third in 1:50.74.
Besides the 200 medley relay, Hamilton and Mucciarone each had a hand in two other first place finishes. Hamilton placed first in the 100 back after clocking a 56.77, which was a pool record. She was also a member of the first place 200 free relay that closed the meet. Mucciarone touched the wall first in the 50 free (23.92) and 100 fly (56.98).
Cadet Sabrina Mortell won the first distance event of the day. She recorded a 1000 free time of 10:35.64 and was followed by Cadet Meaghan McGovern (10:43.05) who placed third. Cadet Monica Sowinski won the 200 free for Army with a time of 1:53.54.
Cadets Jess Burkett (2:05.88) and Bailey Smith (2:06.70) posted the top two finishes in the 200 back before Mortell won the 500 free with a time of 5:08.28. Cadets Danielle Nuszkowski (5:16.51) and Claire Willis (5:17.57) also finished high in the mid distance event for the Black Knights.
In the 200 IM, Cadets Jess Burkett and Sidney Evans finished one-two with times of 2:08.14 and 2:11.03, respectively.
In the diving events, Cadet Jorie Mason represented Army on the 1-meter and earned 146.35 points in her first event as a Black Knight.
The Black Knights closed the meet with another first place relay finish, this time in the 400 free relay. The first place "A" squad was comprised of Hamilton, Kim, Cadet Julia Bush and Sowinski and touched the wall in 3:31.88. The "B" squad of Mucciarone, Clay, Willis and Cadet Jenna Forrester placed third with a time of 3:39.24.
Army is back in action Oct. 16, when the team hosts UMass at Crandall Pool at 5 p.m.
Related Links:
Army West Point Athletics website
U.S. Military Academy at West Point website
U.S. Army Garrison West Point website
Army West Point Athletics Facebook
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