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By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
In the final night of racing, the William and Mary women and men emerged as CAA Champions. The Tribe was impressive all weekend, displaying mighty depth, especially on the men’s side.
Women’s Meet
William and Mary’s Morgan Smith opened the night with a distance win. The freshman touched in 16:36.86 to take the 1650. Towson’s Hannah Snyder and Ashley Illenye finished second and third in 16:44.14 and 16:46.98.
The Tribe continued its winning ways, as Sophie Rittenhouse grabbed the 200 backstroke title in 1:56.95. Natalie Obando of Towson touched second in 1:57.69. James Madison’s Mary Elizabeth Warhol was third (1:58.24).
Two swimmers were under 50 in the 100 freestyle. Jaimie Miller of William and Mary led the charge in 49.55, ahead of Delaware’s Morgan Whyte in 49.85. Kristen Zielinski of JMU rounded out the top three (50.10).
Drexel’s Rachel Bernhardt dropped three more seconds from her impressive morning drop to win the 200 breaststroke. The junior finished in 2:10.89, well ahead of the rest of the field. Jenna Van Camp of Towson out touched JMU’s Katie Parker 2:13.11 to 2:13.16 for second.
William and Mary’s Jessie Ustjanauskas wrapped up the individual events with a win in the 200 butterfly. The senior finished in a dominant 1:58.74. Northeastern’s Delaney Lanker was second in 2:01.38. The Tribe’s Abby Mack was on her heels in 2:01.94.
James Madison won the final event of the weekend. Zielinski, Carli Molano, Camilla Czulada, and Quinn MacMillan registered a 3:20.51 to take the 400 freestyle relay. Delaware’s Dominique Montoya, Alyssa Sanders, Sarah Braatz, and Morgan Whyte finished second (3:22.31). William and Mary rounded out the top three with the squad of Ustjanauskas, Georgie Crompton, Annie Miller, and Jaimie Miller (3:23.56).
Final team scores:
- William and MAry 731.5
- James MAdison 681.5
- Towson 515.5
- Delaware 458
- Northeastern 422.5
- UNC Wilmington 278
- Drexel 258
Men’s Meet
Conrad Zamparello of William and Mary won the 1650 in 15:31.99. The sophomore finished just ahead of a very close race for second. Delaware teammates Alex Tooley and Cory Camp touched second and third in 15:38.26 and 15:39.54.
Will Manion came up short of his record, but held on to defend his conference title in the 200 backstroke. The William and Mary senior touched in 1:45.19, ahead of teammate Alex Henderson who was third (1:46.74), and Towson’s Dominic Breschi who was a very close second (1:45.48).
Drexel senior Joel Berryman dropped nearly a second from the morning to set the CAA meet record by one hundredth of a second. Berryman’s 43.56 eclipsed Sidni Hoxha‘s 2013 meet record. William and Mary’s Billy Russell finished second (44.73) while Delaware’s Nicholas Badsky grabbed the last spot on the podium (44.81).
Jeremiah O’Donnell of William and Mary won his third and final individual event, touching the wall at 1:57.36 in the 200 breaststroke. UNC Wilmington’s Will Ryan finished second (1:59.69). Joseph Brown was third for Drexel (2:00.50).
Jack Saunderson of Towson set a new CAA meet and open record in the 200 butterfly with a 1:45.02. William and Mary’s Tommy Kealy finished second in 1:46.59. Third went to Drexel’s Kyle Lukens in 1:46.65.
The Tribe men grabbed one final win in the 400 freestyle relay. Joseph Eiden, Kyle Neri, Manion, and Russel swam a 2:57.23 for first. Delaware’s Alexander Hillsely, Tomas Elder, Andrew Woerth, and Nicholas Badsky were also under three minutes in 2:59.71 for second. Drexel’s Berryman, Luke Hanner, Sean Swartz, and Lukens finished third (3:00.02).
Final team scores:
- William and Mary 969.5
- Drexel 572
- Towson 533
- Delaware 502
- UNC Wilmington 429.5
Full results here: 2016 CAA Championships – Results
Go Tribe! So proud of the men and woman’s team-great coaching staff, wonderful academic support and amazing supportive parents in the stands!