NORTON, MA- Seven event victories helped the Wheaton College synchronized swimming team win the Wheaton Invitational on Saturday in Balfour Natatorium, as the Lyons topped a five-team field while competing in its first meet this season that incorporated routines.

Wheaton, which returned to action for the first time in three weeks, finished with 102 points to soundly outdistance second-place Keuka College, which notched 82. The Storm placed ahead of the Lyons all six times the teams competed at the same meet last season, including clipping the Blue and White by 2.5 points at the 2008 United States Collegiate Championship.

During the figures portion of the meet, junior Laura Montes (San Juan, PR/Academia San Jose) topped the A category, while senior Sharada Strasmore (Weston, CT/Weston) beat out second-place freshman Christiana Butera (San Diego, CA/Academy of Our Lady of Peace) by 2.361 points for the top slot in B.

Lyon freshmen occupied the top three positions in C, each finishing within 0.709 points of one another. Amanda Chils (Lakeland, FL/George Jenkins) took first, Rachel Cordo (Wayzata, MN/Wayzata) nabbed second, and Anastasia Hare (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Seminary) rounded out the trio by taking third.

Montes played a role in three victories during the routines segment of the invitational, including topping the solo competition with 82.167 points. Wheaton had the top two trios, with Montes joining Butera and Chils in first place behind a score of 80.167, while the second-place trio of Cordo, Strasmore and junior Jenna Swinkin (Hamden, CT/Hamden) had 79.167 points.

The Lyons' team routine was good for first-place points, as the septet totaled 84.750 to second-place Keuka's 81.417. Butera, Chils, Cordo, Hare, Montes, Strasmore and Swinkin combined for the win. During duets, Wheaton athletes took the top two spots, including Butera and Chils winning the competition with 82.333 points. Cordo and Swinkin collected 78.667 points, beating out the Storm's third-place pairing by just 0.667 points.

Wheaton visits New York next weekend, as the Lyons will compete in the Canisius College Invitational on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. before facing Keuka on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.