02/07/2009
Swim & Dive Dunks Gordon College on Senior Day

WORCESTER, MASS. 2/7/09 - Competing in their final dual meets of the season, both Clark University women's and men's swimming and diving teams posted wins over Gordon College in front of a Senior Day crowd at the Kneller Athletic Center Pool on Saturday.

After posting a 149-109 victory over Gordon, the Clark women complete the year with a 7-2 dual meet record - its best mark since the 1984-85 season, when the team went 9-2 overall. The Clark men raised its record to 5-3 after today's 133-59 win against the Fighting Scots.

The Cougar women won eight of 13 individual events on the way to its seventh victory of the year. Seniors Lindsey Stone (Avon, Conn.) and Kayleigh Lagasse (Pawtucket, R.I.) finished their dual meet careers in fine fashion with wins in the 100-yard individual medley (1:08.01) and the 200-yard butterfly (2:21.59), respectively. Highlighting the other senior performances were: Jess Cullen's (Milford, Conn.) second place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (2:51.06); and grad students Cassie Crawford's (Auburndale, Mass.) second place slot in the 50-yard freestyle (28.16), and Caitlin Hanson's (Reading, Mass.) runner-up in the 50-yard backstroke in a time of 32.98.

Freshmen Erin Smith (Carrollton, Tx.) (100-free, 57.62) and Morgan King (Arlington, Mass.) (200-breast, 2:47.78); sophomores Liz Rosen (North Attleboro, Mass.) (Mixed 1,000-free, 10:58.80) and Britney Wigley (Newport Beach, Cali.) (500-free, 5:28.58); and junior Dana Akerfelds (Bronxville, N.Y.) (50-back, 30.07 & 200-back, 2:20.00) each won their respective races.

Seniors Brian Walsh (Wenham, Mass.), Drew Jackson (Chestertown, Md.) and Tim O'Keefe (Lee, N.H.) also went out in front. Walsh won the 50-yard freestyle (24.55) and the 500-free (5:20.31), while Jackson topped the field in the 200-yard freestyle (26.25) and O'Keefe finished first in the 50-yard butterfly (28.99).

Jackson and Walsh also joined forces with senior Dave Carnevale (Boxford, Mass.) and junior Taylor Morono (New London, N.H.) to capture the 400-yard medley relay (4:10.69).

Freshman Ryan Garr (Kingston, R.I.) won a pair of events with victories in the 100-freestyle (50.55) and 50-backstroke (27.64), while classmate Cooper Hart (Palos Verdes Estates, Cali.) won the 50-yard breaststroke (29.46). Junior Jeff Amari (Braintree, Mass.) prevailed in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:42.18) and sophomore Dan Howard (Bow, N.H.) won the 200-yard butterfly (2:10.52).

Clark's swim and dive Class of 2009 included, Gabbi Asay (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), Jess Baker (Queensbury, N.Y.), Dave Carnevale, Cassie Crawford, Caitlin Hanson, Jessica Cullen, captain Korin Danchise-Curtis (Reading, Mass.), Drew Jackson, captain Kayleigh Lagasse, captain Tim O'Keefe, Sal Pezzella (South Windsor, Conn.), captain Mike Smith (Milford, Conn.), captain Lindsey Stone, Brian Walsh and manager Alicia Friedlander.

Both teams will begin preparing for their respective NEWMAC Championship Meets. The women's NEWMAC Meet will be held MIT on February 20-22, while the men's championships take place at Wheaton College on Feb. 27-March 1.