Swimming And Diving Wins Second Consecutive NEC Championship

The Central Connecticut State swimming and diving team captured its second consecutive Northeast Conference Swimming and Diving Championships in dominating fashion, with a 316.5-point margin over the runner-up. The Blue Devils compiled 1,473.5 points in the meet, to capture their record-extending eighth NEC title.

The Blue Devils coaching staff was named the Coaching Staff of the Year on Saturday night. For head coach Bill Ball it is the fifth-time he has been selected as the league's coach of the year (2008, '09, '16, '17, '24).

Abbey Keane defended her title in the 1,650 freestyle, and earned her second gold of the meet, in dominant fashion. She took the lead on the second 50 and never looked back, finishing at 16:55.30, 16 seconds in front of the runner-up. Taylor DeMarest opened the 1,650 session by dropping a 17:15.66, which held up for fourth place.

Maggie Rutledge went 17:19.78 to earn fifth place for the Blue Devils and Wynter Berube finished 14^th with a swim of 17:35.09. Kyla Behrle earned 17^th place with a swim of 18:17.08 and Sophia Pincince rounded out the effort with a time of 18:22.44, good for 20^th.

The Blue Devils added to their lead in the 200 backstroke as Sophie Milhomens (2:00.91) and Megan Dunningan (2:01.13) took silver and bronze. Nathalie Pena finished 16^th at 2:08.15 to round out the 66-point event for CCSU.

Katrine O'Leary snagged silver in the 100 freestyle, finishing at 51.22. Kelly Stotler claimed fifth place with a 52.17 effort in the championship final. Gabby Spaciano finished 16^th with a 54.54 and Lauryn Cowing rounded out the evening swims in the 100 with a 20^th place finish at 53.53.

Cassidy Stotler took eighth place in the 200 breaststroke, going 2:22.66 in the final individual event of the championship. Morgan O'Hara placed 13^th, with a swim of 2:25.95. Grace Young won the C-Final with a time of 2:25.91, while Abby Bacon placed 18^th behind her at 2:28.62.

The Blue Devils completed their championship with a bronze medal in the 400 freestyle relay. Katrine O'Leary, Megan Dunningan, Kelly Stotler and Shannon Welcome went 3:25.82 to officially seal the NEC title.

CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES

• CCSU has eight women's championships in swimming and diving, three more than former member Bryant and three more than all active conference members combined.
• The Blue Devils point total is the highest in NEC history, eclipsing the 949.5 points scored by UMBC in 2003

PRELIM NOTES

200 Backstroke

• Milhomens earned the second qualifying slot, going 2:00.65, /26 behind the top-seed
• Dunnigan will be the third seed, going 2:02.10,.27 in front of the fourth qualifier
• Nathalie Pena will swim in the consolation final, as the ninth seed, after posting a 2:05.70 morning swim
• Jillena Plowucha finished 33^rd, going 2:13.77 Saturday morning.

100 Freestyle

• CCSU put two swimmers into the championship final, led by O'Leary's third spot after posting a time of 51.96
• Kelly Stotler earned the five-seed in the event, going 52.20
• Spaciano will swim in the consolation final, as the 14^th seed, going 53.45 and Cowing is the 18^th seed in the C-Final, after a 53.63 effort

200 Breaststroke

• Cassidy Stotler went 2:21.83 Saturday morning, earning the fourth spot in the championship final
• O'Hara went 2:24.90 in prelims, tying for eighth, but will swim in the consolation final after a swim-off.
• Bacon will lead the C-Final after clocking a 2:27.39, and will be joined by Young, who is 20^th after a 2:29.24 qualifying swim