WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Sophomore Kaila Umbarger (Chelmsford, MA) won three events and junior Jillian Whitaker (Gilford, NH) captured two to power the Keene State College women's swim team to a 132-105 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon at the Sports Center pool.
Keene (2-0) swimmers had the fastest times in all 12 individual events and the meet-ending relay, but swam three of the final four events on an exhibition basis.
Umberger won the 100 yard butterly (59.61) and the 50 (24.62) and 100 (54.73) freestyle events and Whitaker claimed the 100 breaststroke (1:07.41) and 100 individual medley (1:01.37) to lead the Owls.
Umbarger won Little East Conference championships in the 50 and 100 freestyle in record times this past December. While Whitaker set an LEC record in taking the 100 breaststroke at this year's meet.
Eastern freshman Michelle Schapp (Torrington) broke the Eastern record in the 200 backstroke in her third career attempt with a time of 2:16.13, besting the mark of 2:17.08 set by Katie Curran at last year's NEISDA Division II-III Championships. Schapp was third in that event at the LEC meet in a time of 2:17.74.
Schapp also won the 200 freestyle for the second time in four attempts this year, posting a winning time of 2:02.00, edging Keene junior Maureen O'Leary (Nashua, NH) by .13.
In the ten events that were not exhibitioned, Keene swimmers went 1-2 in five events and 1-3 four times.
Earning second-place finishes for the Warriors were senior Amy Arisco (Wallingford) in the 100 butterfly and 100 individual medley and her cousin, freshman Amanda Rivers (Meriden) in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Junior Nadine Menard (Woodstock) was third in the 100 breaststroke and 200 butterfly for the Warriors and freshman Becky Odgers (Shelton) third in the 500 and 1000 freestyle. In her first collegiate race, first-semester transfer Erin McVeigh (Windsor) placed in the meet-opening 100 backstroke, just .34 shy of second place.
Keene and Eastern finished 1-2 in this year's Little East Conference Championships and 1-3 in last year's NEISDA Division II-III Championships. The Owls are 14-0 all-time against Eastern in dual meet competition.
(Courtesy Eastern Conn. State Sports Information)
