For Immediate Release
December 5, 2009
Wellesley Sports Information
Courtesy MHC Sports Information
Wellesley College Swimming & Diving Dominates Pioneer Valley Invite
Complete Results
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Mount Holyoke College swimming and diving team hosted Smith College, Wellesley College and Westfield State College at the non-scoring Pioneer Valley Invitational today. Wellesley dominated the field, taking 12 of 25 events. Smith came away with seven victories, while Mount Holyoke and Westfield totaled four and two, respectively.
Leading the way for the Blue was Virginia Hung (Plainsboro, NJ), who figured in on six wins. She tapped the wall first in the 50-yard butterfly (27.95), the 100-yard butterfly (1:02.23), the 200-yard butterfly (2:23.37) and the 400-yard individual medley (5:03.53). The first year was also a member of Wellesley’s 200-yard (1:59.43) and 400-yard (4:25.98) medley relay teams, which each claimed wins. Graduate student Savanna Johnson (Bloomington, IN) came up with five wins. In addition to her top times in the 50-yard breaststroke (32.70), the 50-yard freestyle (25.48), the 25-yard breaststroke (15.72) and the 25-yard freestyle (12:29), she was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley relay team.
Wellesley also had three athletes compete in every swimming event. Hung, Laura Foley (Holden, MA) and Hilary Gram (Hopkinton, MA), swam every event at the meet. Only four swimmers at the event accomplished this feat, with the final athlete being Christine Dzialo of Smith.
Lily Seidman (Westfield, Ind.) paced Smith with six victories. Her individual triumphs came in the 200-yard individual medley (2:19.99), the 200-yard backstroke (2:19.59), the 100-yard backstroke (1:05.45), the 100-yard freestyle (58.05) and the 25-yard butterfly (13.43). The junior figured in on the Pioneers win in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:56.94), as well.
Mount Holyoke’s attack was fueled by senior Lindsay Schonborn (Orinda, Calif.), who tapped the wall first in the 50-yard backstroke (31:57), the 200-yard freestyle (2:04.32) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:13.01). She also teamed up with sophomore Lydia Bowers (Windham, Conn.), first year Joan Burton (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and first year Nora Cunningham (Bronx, N.Y) to take top honors in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:43.39).
Sophomore Kimi Schmidt (Longmeadow, Mass.) recorded first place finishes in both the 1-meter (226.95) and 3-meter (233.95) diving events to lead the way for Westfield State.
Mount Holyoke (2-0) will be off until Friday, January 15, when it travels to Clark University for a tri-meet beginning at 1:00 p.m. Elms College will be the third team competing at the event. Wellesley (2-3) will host Smith (2-2) on Saturday, January 16 at 1:00 p.m. Meanwhile, Westfield State (2-2) is slated to host Plymouth State University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Mount Holyoke Winners
Lydia Bowers, Lindsay Schonborn, Joan Burton, Nora Cunningham – 200 free relay (1:43.39)
Lindsay Schonborn – 50 back (31:57), 200 free (2:04.32), 100 breast (1:13.01)
Smith Winners
Lily Seidman – 200 IM (2:19.99), 200 back (2:19.59), 100 back (1:05.45), 100 free (58.05), 25 fly (13.43)
Michelle Mai, Christine Dzialo, Mackenzie Bradley, Lily Seidman – 400 free relay (3:56.94)
Michelle Mai – 25 back (15.13)
Wellesley Winners
Savanna Johnson – 50 breast (32.70), 50 free (25.48), 25 breast (15.72), 25 free (12.29)
Dana Dutton – 500 free (5:32.53)
Virginia Hung – 50 fly (27.95), 200 fly (2:23.37), 400 IM (5:03.53), 100 fly (1:02.23)
Hilary Gram – 200 breast (2:42.46)
Katie Foley, Carolyn Jackson, Virginia Hung, Dana Dutton – 400 medley relay (4:25.98)
Katie Foley, Savanna Johnson, Virginia Hung, Dana Dutton – 200 medley relay (1:59.43)
Westfield State Winners
Kimi Schmidt – 1 meter diving (226.95), 3 meter diving (233.95)