Women's Swimming & Diving Drops Opener to St. Michael's

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's swimming & diving team opened the 2022-2023 dual meet schedule with a 191-120 setback to Division II Saint Michael's College on Saturday afternoon at the Moriarty Pool.

The Bears captured top honors in five of the 16 events, including both diving, and added six second-place performances.

The two schools were competing in the same pool for the first time since the 2016 New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships held at URI.

Freshman Cailey Simard (Haverhill, Mass.) won both diving events in her collegiate debut. Simard posted a score of 230.25 points on the one-meter board, and 217.05 points on the three-meter. Graduate student Alexa Wilson (Centerville, Mass.) placed second on both boards with a one-meter score of 225.25 points, and a three-meter tally of 187.50 points.

Junior Olivia Ranck (Wilbraham, Mass.) placed first in the 50 backstroke (30.78) as well as the 100 individual medley (1:07.81), and finished second in the 50 butterfly (29.31).

Senior Makayla Paquin (North Easton, Mass.) rounded out the Bears' first-place performers as earned top honors in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:07.94.

The foursome of Paquin, freshman Emily Bradford (Pittsfield, Mass.), Ranck and senior Danielle Vissering (North Andover, Mass.) finished second in the 200 medley relay (2:02.76), while Vissering, sophomore Brianna Matte (Cumberland, R.I.), Paquin and sophomore Brynn Murray (Chelmsford, Mass.) placed second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:49.51).

Murray added a second place showing in the 100 freestyle (1:00.86).

The Bears are off until next Saturday when they host a tri-meet with Eastern Connecticut State University and Regis College.