Women’s Swimming & Diving Sweeps Double-Dual Meet

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Bridgewater State University women's swimming and diving team swept a double-dual meet on Saturday afternoon at the Plymouth State University Natatorium as the Bears defeated Rhode Island College, 75-60, and edged host Plymouth, 70-69.  PSU also defeated RIC, 70-62.

The Bears of Bridgewater State used superior depth to record the two team victories as RIC captured first place in nine of the meet's 16 events while PSU won four events and BSU three.  Bridgewater improved to 6-4 on the season, while the Panthers recorded their first team win of the season to go to 1-5.  RIC slips to 1-3 with the two losses.

BSU's individual winners included sophomore Sarah Rechtiene (Southbury, Conn.) in the 200 breaststroke (2:41.96) and freshman Tiffany Easter (Easton, Mass.) in the three-meter diving (157.95 points). The Bears won the 400 free relay with the team of juniors Ariel Gillis (Blackstone, Mass.) and Kimberly Minnette (South Easton, Mass.), Rechtiene and junior Ashley Dunican (Bennington, Vt.) posting a time of 4:11.05.

Plymouth State got individual victories from junior Delia Foley (Londonderry, N.H.) in the 200-yard freestyle, with a time of 2:10.48; senior Amy Mulhern (Taunton, Mass.) in the 100-yard backstroke (1:08.48); and junior Shannon Rogers (Beverly, Mass.) in the one-meter diving (180.00 points).  PSU also won the 200-yard medley relay with the group of sophomore Nora Doherty (Dorchester, Mass.), senior Jennifer Samaro (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic), Mulhern and Foley in a time of 2:05.68.

Four swimmers combined to win RIC's nine events.  Freshman Marykate McCutcheon (Smithfield, R.I.) won three races for the Anchorwomen, the 500 freestyle (5:35.48), the 1000 free (11:26.36) and the 200 backstroke (2:23.12).  Double winners included junior Sophie Kanno (Cranston, R.I.) in the 100 breaststroke (1:16.03) and 100 fly (1:07.71); sophomore Abbie Leazes (Providence, R.I.) in the 200 fly (2:32.90) and 200 individual medley (2:27.28); and freshman Emily Thompson (Cumberland, R.I.) in the 50 free (28.04) and 100 free (1:01.34).