WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - This time last year, the Williams College women's swim team defeated the Amherst College Lady Jeffs 189-104. This year, they sought to widen that margin, and did so with characteristic oomph, defeating their traditional rival with a final score of 216-72. The team made the most of their last chance to perform in the Samuelson-Muir pool this season, and by the on-deck debut of Head Coach Steven Kuster, who returned from sabbatical in late December. This meet marks the last home competition for the class of 2015, and they were recognized with the traditional ceremony to open the meet (along with the traditional all-senior 400yd-freestyle relay to close it off).
Following tradition, the Ephwomen took the deck without their counterparts on the men's team, making for a fast-paced and intimate meet. The 200yd-medley relay marked one of the closest races of the day, with both Williams and Amherst posting their best possible squads to start off the afternoon with a bang. The Ephwomen prevailed against this initial challenge, with the combination of Katie Bennett '16, Breanna Nguyen '16, Emma Waddell '18, and Sarah Thompson '15 out-touching their competition with a final time of 1:47.11. The excitement only built from there, as Williams dominated event after event to blow their usually fearsome components out of the water.
Freshman Emma Sawkins led the charge in the 1000-yd freestyle, winning the event with a time of 10:48.23. Teammates Erica Bucki '15 and Maddy Holker '16 were hot on her heels, finishing third and fourth with times of 10:57.27 and 11:03.09 respectively. Next up in the 200yd-freestyle, Williams demonstrated their strength in all things freestyle, with Captain Thompson '15 and Waddell '18 putting on a show with times of 1:53.88 and 1:54.83 to capture first and second. Teammates Maddie Downs '18 and Tess Vorselen '15 rounded out the heat, taking fourth and fifth place over their Amherst opponents.
The Ephwomen swept several events throughout the day, starting with the 100yd-backstroke. The trio of Bennett '16, Olivia Jackson '17, and Katie Priest '18 sped to a 1-2-3 finish all within 2 seconds of each other, proving that the backstroke legacy at Williams remains as unshakable as ever. Bennett '16 and Jackson '17 went on to place first and second once more in 200yd-backstroke. The 500yd-freestyle provided another venue for a Williams sweep, and Thompson '15, Megan Pierce '17, Sawkins '18, and Priest '18 rose to the occasion to finish first through fourth. The much-anticipated return of the Ephwomen who were studying abroad during Fall 2014 was showcased in the 50yd-freestyle event, where Faye Sultan '16 touched in first with a speedy time of 24.64. She was joined in her success by teammates Lauren Jones '16, Catherine Treesh '15, and Emma Nuzzo '16, who placed second, third, and fourth.
Although the divers had no competition from the Amherst squad, they dove exceptionally well, debuting numerous dives and feeding off of one another and their swimming teammates for excitement. Ari Ross '17 placed first on the 3-meter board and the 1-meter, closely followed by diving companion Michelle Higgins '15.
The breaststroking trio of Nguyen '16, Molly Prindle '15 and Olivia Clark '17 held strong throughout the meet, facing constant pressure from Amherst breaststroker Emily Hyde. While Hyde took first in both the 200 and 100-yd events, Nguyen '16 consistently placed second and Prindle '15 was consistently in third.
The meet closed on a triumphant note with the 400-yd freestyle relay. The Williams combo of Waddell '17, Erica Myers '16, Jones '16 and Nguyen '16 touched out Amherst with a time of 3:37.29. While the Lady Jeffs took second, the Williams senior class relay consisting of Prindle '15, Treesh '15, Vorselen '15, Higgins '15, Thompson '15 and Bucki '15 had a very strong showing – especially considering that one of its members was a diver. Content with this decisive win over their rival, the Ephwomen now gear up for another week of training and another chance to race next weekend at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.
RESULTS
