Fordham a tough foe for girl’s swimming
January 24, 2013
The Iona College Women’s Swim Team traveled to Fordham’s Messmore Aquatic Center to compete in their first meet since returning from their training trip. The meet resulted in a 140-93 loss to the Rams, but the Gaels hope to improve throughout the remainder of the season.
The divers boasted an impressive record at the meet with a first place finish for senior Jamie Colburn on the three-meter dive with a score of 161.25 followed by a second and third place finish by freshman Alicia Raffle and junior Melanie Dilascio. Dilascio also took first in the one-meter with a score of 164.85. Raffle placed second.
The Gaels took home four of the 13 events, placing first in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 freestyle relay, along with the one and three-meter dives.
In the 100 breaststroke, the Gaels finished in the top four spots with a first place finish by junior Kerri-Anne Dodenhoff, coming in at 1:08.45 followed by freshmen Mary Ellen Mangione, Casidy O’Connell and sophomore Katie Stelnicki.
The combination of seniors Kelsie Johnson, Victoria Ponzo, junior Brigette Doughty and Mangione earned Iona their final win in the 200 freestyle relay with a 1:47.50, finishing just a few seconds ahead of the Gaels second relay.
Senior Theresa Harvey came home with a second place finish in the 50 free, but feels that there is plenty of time for improvement.
“The meet was a good test to see how much our bodies could handle after coming back from a hard training trip,” Harvey said. “Even though we are physically exhausted, racing at this time of the year allows us to focus on the little things, prepping us for a good conference meet in a month.”
Also scoring well this meet was senior Kara Nowakowski, who placed third in the 1,000 freestyle and Dodenhoff placing third in the 100 freestyle. The 200 freestyle relay consisting of freshman Alexa Caravella, sophomore Samantha Jaile, O’Connell and Nowakowski, placed second.
The Gaels will be back in action at home in the Hynes Athletic Center on Jan. 26 and 28, as they take on MAAC foes Fairfield and Manhattan.
