WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. 2/19/12 – Keene State College men's and women's swim teams finished second at the three-day New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships held this past weekend at the Upper Valley Aquatics Center in White River Junction, Vt.

Bentley University edged Keene State for both titles.  Then KSC men saw their string of three consecutive crowns come to an end, falling to the Falcons 885.5-875.  The Bentley women slipped by the Owls 1,552.5-1,358.  It was the second straight second place finish for Keene State.

"Everyone was a little disappointed that they didn't win the championship, but they were proud of what they accomplished," said KSC Coach Jack Fabian, who was named men's swim coach of the year.

"They put everything they had into the meet.  Hopefully, we'll come back with a full roster and recapture the championship next year."

The Owls didn't go away empty handed.  Sophomore Drew Ledwith (Keene, N.H.), who won three individual races, swam on three winning relays, set four school records and posted four NCAA championship qualifying times, was named the male swimmer of the meet.  Senior Jillian Whitaker (Gilford, N.H.), who amassed 312 points for KSC in both individual and relay races got received the senior high-point award. 

The Owls won a combined five races and posted three NCAA Championship B cut qualifying times and set one meet record in the final day of competition on Sunday.

Senior Maureen O'Leary (Nashua, N.H.) won the only race for the KSC women, touching the wall fist in the 200 fly with a school record and NCAA qualifying time of 2:06.54.  O'Leary also won the 50 and 100 fly races at the meet. Freshmen Caitlyn Shea (Salem, N.H.) and Carolyn Hall (Beverly, Mass.) were third (2:11.60) and fifth (2:16.43) respectively in the race.

Ledwith continued his strong showing at the championships, winning the 200 fly with a school and meet record and NCAA championship qualifying time of 1:51.50.  Sophomores Dan Oliveira (Ludlow, Mass.) and Tyler Tallcouch (Seymour, Conn.) placed second (1:55.46) and third (1:56.78) respectively in the race. 

Sophomore Jared Hyde (Tolland, Conn.) won the 100 free with a school record and NCAA championship qualifying time of 45.91.  Sophomore James Black (Lynn, Mass.) was second and junior Austin Harris (Essex Junction, Vt.) was third (46.68).

Freshman Randall Dunton (St. Cloud, Fla.) won the 100 IM with a time of 53.55. The team of Black, Harris, Hyde and Ledwith concluded the meet by winning the 400 free relay, shattering the school record with a time of 3:03.50.

In other women's races, freshman Julie Trodden (Salem, N.H.) finished second in the 1,650 free (17:53.14). Whitaker and freshman Diana Pimer (West Haven, Conn.) placed second (2:22.85) and third (2:25.15) respectively in the 200 breast. 

Sophomore Stephanie Murray (Haverhill, Mass.) and Lianna Wissmann (Orleans, Mass.) joined Whitaker and Shea to finish second in the 400 free relay. (3:36.37). 

Keene State won a combined 20 races, set 10 school records, established six meet marks and posted NCAA championship qualifying times in nine events at the meet.