Women:
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Paced by a pair of relay victories, the Bryant University women’s swimming and diving team finished second at the WPI Invitational this weekend.
The Bulldogs wrapped up competition on Sunday, finishing the three-day event with 2,783.5 points. Assumption won the 11-team invite with 2,826.5 points.
On Sunday, the Black and Gold claimed the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay. Nicole Salzano (Elmwood Park, N.J.), Julia Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.), Taylor Poliseno(Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) and Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.) combined to win the 200 medley relay with a score of 1:46.47. In the 400 free relay, Rice, Valeria Watson (Mexico City, Mexico), Salzano and Mackenzie Kirk (San Jose, Calif.) posted a time of 3:33.21 to win the event. The two wins gave Bryant four relay victories on the weekend after it claimed the 200 free and 400 medley relays on Saturday.
Individually, the Bulldogs saw a number of swimmers in the ‘A’ finals on Sunday. Rice won the 100 free with a time of 52.37 and then finished eighth in the 200 free. Kristie Chan (San Francisco, Calif.) also qualified for the finals in the 100 free, finishing 10th. Messina and Samantha Torrez(Whittier, Calif.) both made the cut in the 200 breast, finishing sixth and 10th, respectively. Caitlin Dye (Natick, Mass.) finished sixth in the 50 back, while Lauren Doerrman (Oley, Pa.)and Kirk placed seventh and 10th in the 400 IM.
Bryant’s other top individual swims included Erin Daly (Reading, Mass.), Salzano, Watson andJamie Schaefer (Durham, N.C.). Daly finished sixth in the 200 free, Salzano (3rd) and Watson (9th) both finaled in the 100 back and Schaefer finished eighth in the 200 fly.
The Bulldogs also wrapped up one of their most successful performances on the boards. Kelci Abernethy (Chandler, Ariz.) dominated once again, winning the 1-meter dive with a score of 433.05 on 11 dives. Abernethy set the school record for 11 dives and also broke the school record in six dives with a score of 259.70. Ann Burdick (Glenmont, N.Y.) finished second in the event, while Stephanie Jennings (Elmont, N.Y.) and Carissa Stemen (Naples, Fla.) finished 5-6. On the weekend, Bryant’s divers contributed 165 points and set four school records and posted nine personal best performances.
Bryant will now have over a month off before hosting Massachusetts on January 16th.
Men:
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men’s swimming and diving team finished third at the WPI Invitational following another outstanding performance on Sunday.
The Bulldogs finished the three-day event with 2,098 points. Stevens Institute of Technology won the meet with 3,628 points and WPI finished second with 3,476.
On Sunday, the Black and Gold sent six different individuals to the ‘A’ finals. Ben Schulte(Tumon, Guam) returned from the AT&T Winter National Championships to final in four different events. He won the 200 breast with a time of 2:05.39, finished second in the 200 free and 50 breast and finished fourth in the 400 IM. Shane Vyskocil (Parsippany, N.J.) and Charlie Broe(New Windsor, N.Y.) gave Bryant three swimmers in the 400 IM final, finishing seventh and ninth, respectively.
Tavish Boyle (Springfield, N.J.), Colin Curtin (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Benon Boyadjian(Middlebury, Conn.) all competed in the ‘A’ finals as well. Boyle finished 10th in the 200 breast, Curtin finished third in the 50 back and sixth in the 200 fly and Boyadjian finished 10th in the 50 back.
The Bulldogs finished third in both the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay on Sunday. Curtin, Schulte, Boris Paraliticci (Saunderstown, R.I.) and George Sommerville (Pittsfield, Mass.)teamed up to post a time of 1:33.20 in the 200 medley relay, while Schulte, Joshua Bjornberg(Wallingford, Conn.), Paraliticci and Curtin placed third in the 400 free relay.
Bryant’s divers put the finishing touch on an amazing weekend, as well. Kevin Sullivan (East Lyme, Conn.) finished second in the 3-meter dive with a point total of 382.30 on 11 dives. Sullivan also broke the school record in six dives with a score of 241.45. Ryan Sheehy (West Newbury, Mass.) finished fourth in the event, posting 359.20 points in 11 dives. On the weekend, the two combined to set three school records, set eight personal bests and contribute 82 points.
The Bulldogs will now have over a month off before returning to the pool on January 16 when they host Massachusetts.
Swimming news courtesy of Bryant Swimming & Diving.