Wheaton opens season with pair of convincing victories over Gordon and Roger Williams

November 4, 2005

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened their 2005-06 seasons with a pair of convincing victories over Gordon College and Roger Williams University in Friday night's double-dual meet held at Balfour Natatorium. The Lyon men posted scores of 160-38 and 153-117 against Gordon and Roger Williams, respectively, while the women defeated the Fighting Scots, 163-64 and the Hawks, 148.5-131.5. Roger Williams swept Gordon to even their records on the young season.

The Wheaton men won all 14 swim events on the night, while the women accounted for victories in 10 events. Junior All-American Barrett Roberts (Portland, ME/Deering) led the way with a trio of top finishes, while senior John Kuckens (West Hartford, CT/Hall), junior Matt Hurley (Belfast, ME/Belfast Area) and sophomores Joe Fowler (Farmington, ME/Mount Blue) and Matt Jordan (Ellsworth, ME/Ellsworth) earned two wins apiece.

Roberts topped the competition in the 50-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley events, posting times of 26.86, 48.15 and 2:08.55, respectively. Kuckens placed first in the 500- and 1,000-yard free events, Hurley in the 200-yard free and 200-yard breaststroke, Fowler in the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard butterfly and Jordan in the 50-yard free and 50-yard fly. Freshman Jake Maher (Newtown, CT/Newtown) picked up his first collegiate victory in the 50-yard breast event.

The Lyons also accounted for wins in the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relays. Hurley and Kuckens were joined by sophomore Ryan Patch (Lexington, MA/Lexington) and first-year T.J. Sponzo (Simsbury, CT/Avon Old Farms) in the 200-yard free relay, while Hurley, Maher and Roberts sided with freshman Chris Romilly (Washington, DC/Saint Albans) during the 400-yard medley event.

For the women, junior Colleen Smith (Milford, CT/Lauralton Hall), sophomore Meg Miller (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) and first-year Casey Shanley (Rumson, NJ/Suffield Academy) were all multiple-event winners. Smith was the fastest finisher in the 50- and 200-yard butterfly events, Miller bested the field in the 50-yard backstroke and 50-yard freestyle, and Shanley made her collegiate debut a memorable one with wins in the 500- and 1,000-yard free events.

Sophomore Abby Pratt (Melrose, MA/Melrose) won the 200-yard backstroke and freshman Mandy Cumings (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville Community) was the meet's top finisher in the 200-yard individual medley. Like the men, Wheaton captured both relay titles, as Miller, seniors Courtney Catalano (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) and Lauren Pcholinski (Old Saybrook, CT/Old Saybrook) and junior Kristen Behrens (Uxbridge, MA/Uxbridge) won the 200-yard free relay. Miller also anchored the winning 400-yard medley relay, joined by Behrens, Smith and freshman Caitlin Glover (Durham, NH/Berwick Academy).

The Wheaton teams return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host the annual Charlie Batterman Relays, which features Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Tufts University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The meet is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.

Complete Results

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