CCSU Swimming and Diving Wins Second Straight NEC Title

The Central Connecticut women's swimming and diving team won their second straight and fifth overall Northeast Conference Championship on Saturday night at MIT.  The Blue Devils completed their win with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay, tallying 797 total points on the way to the win.

Wagner was second with 727 points, followed by Bryant (543), St. Francis U (463), LIU Brooklyn (417), Mount St. Mary's (193), Sacred Heart (180) and St. Francis Brooklyn (121).

Junior Christine Rasile was named the Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet, posting four relay wins and first place finishes in the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free over the four day meet.

"I couldn't be more proud of this team," head coach Bill Ball said on Saturday.  "They put in the time, effort and hard work necessary to win their second straight title, and it showed tonight.  We knew coming into Saturday night what we had to do, and we did it.  Just an all-around complete effort by everyone one of these team members."

Ball was named the NEC Coach of the Year following the meet.  The Blue Devils have won four NEC titles in Ball's career at CCSU.

Senior Reyna Zascirinskis got things started on Saturday night with a sixth place finish in the 1,650 freestyle, swimming at 17:34.94.  She earned 13 points for the Blue Devils with her swim.

Freshman Aidan Devers placed first in the 200 backstroke, followed closely behind junior Stephanie Czulewicz who was third in the same event.  Devers swam a time of 1:59.40 to place first, while Czulewicz swam 2:02.61 for her third place finish.  Sophomore Maeve Awiszus was sixth in a time of 2:04.57.

Also in the 200 backstroke freshman Kaitlyn Troy finished first in the B final with a time of 2:04.44, earning nine points for the Blue Devils.   

Christine Rasile continued her exceptional meet with a first place finish in the 100 yard freestyle in a time of 49.68, setting a new school record in the process.  Sophomore Lauren Rasile was fourth in a time of 51.29 and sophomore Lauren Czulewicz was sixth in a time of 51.51.  

Sophomore Maddy Garber won the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:13.66, narrowly missing her own school record.  Senior Alaina Papiro was fifth in 2:17.44 and freshman Kailey Demers was seventh in 2:19.93.

Junior Sabree Thomas finished second in the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 2:04.16 to earn 17 points for the Blue Devils.  Junior Lisa Ward was sixth in a time of 2:07.47.  

In the 3 meter diving event freshman Brianna Buehler finished fourth overall with a score of 213.85 and senior Kaitlyn Beaver was tied for fifth with a score of 210.90.  Sophomore Annemarie Durham was eighth with a score of 190.20, giving the Blue Devils a combined 39.5 points in the event.

Central capped the night with a first place finish in the 400 yard freestyle relay as Christine Rasile, Papiro, Lauren Rasile and Lauren Czulewicz finished in a time of 3:25.35, more than a second ahead of second place Wagner in the event.