Rutgers University women’s swimming and diving team got off to a strong start in their two-day quad meet with Villanova, Georgetown and Seton Hall in Piscataway, New Jersey on Friday. The Scarlet Knights lead Villanova, Georgetown, and Seton Hall heading into Day Two.
Villanova women’s 200 free relay team of Kaisla Kollanus (23.99), Fiona Hardie (24.18), Katrin Heider (23.97), and Sara Jurek (23.70) went 1:35.84 to open the meet, while Rutgers (1:36.02 – Sarah Coyne, Meghan Kiely, Julia Kudryashova, and Joanna Wu) and Georgetown (1:37.90 – Baily Page, Kirstin Peterson, Erin Timochenko, and Erica Fabbri) were second and third. Seton Hall (Kathryn Carson, Melody Bush, Samantha Shirtliff, and Kylene Ronayne) finished in 1:39.73.
Villanova women dominated the 200 free and 1000 free. In the 200, Jurek (1:52.56) and Jessi Randolph (1:52.62) traded stroke for stroke. Similarly, Rutgers’ Coyne (1:53.22) and Georgetown’s Christine Ryan (1:53.41) had an exciting race for third, with Coyne bringing it home in 28.5 for the win. The Wildcats took the top three spots in the 1000 (Emily Mayo – 10:06.36, Caitlin Daday – 10:08.54, and Erin Merkle – 10:20.25). Emily Erwin of Rutgers (10:24.71) finished just behind the leaders.
Rutgers owned the 100 breast, taking the top three spots with Greta Leberfinger (1:03.67), Rachel Stoddard (1:06.42) and Larissa Neilan (1:06.61). Neilan tied for third with Georgetown’s Haley Owens. The Scarlett Knights also posted the top two times in the 200 IM behind Morgan Pfaff (2:04.36) and Leberfinger (2:05.96). Pfaff doubled with a win in the 200 fly (2:01.63).
Seton Hall’s Melody Bush had a solid 100 back (58.32); she took third behind Rutgers’ Wu (55.35) and Villanova’s Daigneault (57.30). Bush’s teammate Gabby Signorelli scored big points for the Pirates, taking second in 3-meter diving with 271.25 points behind Rutgers’ Addy Walkowiak (307.65).
The Scarlet Knights led wire to wire in the 400 medley relay, with Wu (55.65), Leberfinger (1:02.87), Pfaff (55.25), and Coyne (51.81) combining for an NCAA “B” cut of 3:45.58. Villanova’s Daigneault, Heather Farley, Hardie, and Kollanus also turned in a “B” time with their 3:53.78.
On the men’s side, Seton Hall led the field after the first 20 events. Villanova’s Wildcats won the 200 free relay behind Joe Moleski (22.09), Chris Tamanini (21.39), Mike Rodriguez (21.32), and Jason Moyer (20.61) with a time of 1:25.41. Seton Hall (JC Logan, Timothy Bosse, Zach Delillo, and Keith Carlino) touched out Georgetown (William Leach, Michael Young, David Chung, and Michael Smigelski) by 9/100 for second, 1:26.41 to 1:26.50.
The Seton Hall Pirates then went on to win every event except the 50 free. It began with a 1:42.84 in the 200 free from Noah Yanchulis. Yanchulis also posted the top time in the 200 IM, 1:55.73. He just held off Georgetown’s Daniel Ross (1:55.99), who had an impressive last 50.
In addition to Ross’ close call in the IM, Georgetown showed impressive grit in the 200 fly, where Samuel DeLise went 1:55.12 but lost by 1/100 to Seton Hall’s Matt Zebrowski (1:55.11).
The next Pirate to top his field was Carlino with a 52.51 100 back. Carlino very nearly even-split his race; his blazing second half robbed Villanova’s Rodriguez (52.59) of the victory. Seton Hall freshmen Sean Sali (59.09) and Collin Dunn (59.99) went 1-2 in the 100 breast. And distance freestlyler Cody Wimmer went 9:43.44 to win the 1000 free.
Villanova’s Moyer won the 50 free in 21.38. He also earned second place in the 200 free with 1:43.69.
Seton Hall finished Day One with a 3:28.53 in the men’s 400 medley relay (Carlino-52.01, Sali-58.55, Delillo-51.31, and Bosse-46.66). The Hoyas’ Edward Spinelli, DeLise, Martin Vanin, and William Leach claimed second in 3:32.30.