WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. 11/5/11 – Keene State
College's men's and women's swim teams opened
their season with several strong performances at the New England
Invitational at the Upper Valley Aquatics Center in White River
Junction, VT. on Saturday.
“I was impressed,” said KSC Coach Jack
Fabian. “Often early in the season, swimmers have
trouble coming home in their races, but yesterday their splits were
solid and consistent”
Sophomore All-American Drew Ledwith (Keene,
N.H.) had a big day, winning three races. He set a pool
record in the 1,000 free (9:25.62) and also swam to first place
finishes in the 400 IM (4:10.94) and the 500 free (4:37.50).
Senior Jill Whitaker (Gilford, N.H.) had the
top performances by the Keene State women's team, winning the
100 breast (1:07.29) and placing second in the 50 breast
(31.01).
Among returning swimmers, senior Maureen
O'Leary (Nashua, N.H.) placed second in the 50 fly
(28.08) and sophomore All-American Lianna Wissmann
(Orleans, Mass.) finished second in the 50 back (28.81). For the
men, sophomore All-American Jared Hyde (Tolland,
Conn.) took second in the 50 free (21.86), sophomore Tyler
Tambascio (Greenwich, Conn.) was second in the 50 breast
(29.66) and sophomore Dan Oliveria (Ludlow, Mass.)
finished second in the 50 fly (24.78).
Fabian said KSC captains Megan Wilson
(Torrington, Conn.), Austin Harris (Essex
Junction, Vt.), Derek Peabody (Haverhill, Mass.)
and Whitaker did a great job of getting the freshmen ready for
their first college meet. “All of them swam close to or
better than their best times,” Fabian said. “It
was a very impressive performance for the freshman swimmers.”
Freshman Julie Trodden (Reading,
Mass.) won the 1,000 free with a personal best time of
11:02.37 while Caitlyn Shea (Salem, N.H.) placed
second in the 200 free (1:59.55). Diana
Primer (West Haven, Conn.)was also second in the 400 IM
(4:44.75), a half of second off the KSC record. Freshman
Taylor DaSilva (Stony Brook, N.Y.) was also third
in the 50 free (25.23).
Randy Dunton (Saint Cloud, Fla.) helped
the men's team by swimming backstroke in all the medley
relays and placing fifth in the 100 back (55.61) against a strong
field of MIT swimmers.
The diving competition was held at Keene State with divers from
Wheaton, WPI and KSC competing. Sophomore Josh
Tuller (Plainview, N.Y.) won both the one-meter and
three-meter competitions.
