By Robert Dickey
@Robert_Dickey11
NORTHAMPTON — After starting out their season with a tough loss in a tri-meet with Coast Guard and URI, the women’s swimming and diving team rebounded like only the best teams can and won against Smith College on Tuesday night in Northampton.
The Pride put up a total of 170 points as they bested Smith by 51 points by a final score of 170-119. The team had athletes who individually stood out all over the as Springfield finished first in 14 of the 16 events.
It wasn’t just individuals who carried the load for the Pride though. The opening 400 medley relay saw the Pride dominate with a time of 4:14.86. This impressive finish was achieved by sophomore Hillary Gallagher, junior Amelia McKenzie freshman Grace Moore and senior Olivia Paione.
These girls were some of the top performers of the day as not only did they perform in the relay stage but also in their individual races. Paione won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events with statement times of 1:09:58 and 2:30.79, respectively.
Gallagher gained her victory by swimming to a time of 2:19.95 in the 200 backstroke event. McKenzie claimed her first place finish in the 100 freestyle race clocking in with a time just under a minute at 57:63 and Moore smoked the competition in the 200 IM winning by close to eight seconds with a time of 2:15:86.
There were a number of notable first place finishes that were won by freshman on Tuesday’s meet. To add to Moore’s individual win, Hannah Savoie took first place in the 200 freestyle race with a time of 2:05.30 and Maddie Crowley won the 200 fly with ease coming in with a time of 2:17.96.
Other first place finishers included junior Bri Boulerice in the 100 back with a time of 1:07.28, sophomore Brianna Magee with a score of 26.09 in the 50 freestyle and senior Lauren Longley won the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:39.38.
In the diving part of the meet, senior Sierra Skaza won the three meter dive with a winning score of 258.65.
This Saturday, Springfield will take on MIT at 1:00 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Pride will look to build off their win on Tuesday and more towards a successful season.
Feature photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics