01/10/2009
Swim & Dive Compete at Wheaton Invitational; Women Place 2nd, Men Finish 3rd

NORTON, MASS. 1/10/09 - The Clark University women's and men's swim and dive team posted a combined 11 victories in its first competitive meet since December 7 at the Wheaton Invitational this afternoon in Norton, Mass.

Clark returned from its winter break trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday night. Showing no signs of jet-lag, the Cougar women finished as runner-up in the six-team invite with 386.5 points. On the men's side, Clark placed third (375 points) out of four teams. Hosts Wheaton College won both the women's (555.5 points) and men's (490.5) competition.

Liz Rosen (North Attleboro, Mass.) and senior Kayleigh Lagasse (Pawtucket, R.I.) were individual winners for Clark. Rosen claimed victories in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:59.12) and 500-yard freestyle (5:24.85), and Lagasse placed first in the 200-yard butterfly (2:18.05).

Junior Dana Akerfelds (11:24.22) and sophomore Britney Wigley (11:25.27) finished two-three in the 1,000-freestyle to complete the sweep behind Rosen's first place finish, while first-year Erin Smith picked up points in the 100-yard freestyle (2nd/57.93), 200-yard freestylee (3rd/2:02.60) and 400-yard individual medley (3rd/5:01.54). Wigley also took second in the 500-freestyle in a time of 5:29.09.

In diving events, newcomer Eileen Garcia (New York, N.Y.) placed second on both the 1-meter (217 points) and 3-meter (201.90 points) boards.

Senior Drew Jackson (Chestertown, Md.) and freshman Ryan Garr (Kingston, R.I.) both had solid performances in the pool with three wins each. Jackson won the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.34), the 100-yard freestyle (49.91) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:00.55), while Garr prevailed in the 100-yard backstroke (54.84), 50-yard freestyle (22.85), and the 200-yard backstroke (1:58.01).

Other top performances for Clark included, senior Tim O'Keefe (Lee, N.H.), who took second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:53.49), and Dan Howard's (Bow, N.H.) third place finishes in the 200-butterfly (2:10.45) and 100-butterfly (57.78).

Competing in his first meet of the season, junior Taylor Morono (New London, N.H.), who recently returned from abroad, placed a respectable fourth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.10).

Senior Sal Pezzella (South Windsor, Conn.) took third on the 3-meter diving board (199.70).

Both of Clark's women's and men's 800-yard freestyle relay won their respective races. Smith, Wigley, Rosen and Akerfelds teamed up to win it on the women's side in 8:23.25, and Garr, Lamar Duffy, Jackson, and Curtis Reid captured the victory (7:35.94) for the Cougar men.

Clark will host Brandeis University on Wednesday (6:30 p.m.).

Women Team Scores:
1.) Wheaton College - 555.5
2.) Clark University - 386.5
3.) Wellesley College - 242
4.) Vassar College - 209
5.) Smith College - 164
6.) Roger Williams University - 114


Men's Team Scores:
1.) Wheaton College - 490.5
2.) Roger Williams - 397
3.) Clark University - 375
4.) Vassar College - 324.5