Swimming & Diving Sweeps Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The University of Maine men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept Providence College on Saturday afternoon. The women's team picked up a 186-112 victory while the men defeated the Friars 156.5-137.5. The Black Bears picked up 21 total wins en route to the sweep at Providence.

On the women's side, Shannon Bender (Cumberland, R.I.), Lauren Thornbrough (San Diego, Calif.) and Jenn Trodden (Reading, Mass.) all picked up a pair of victories. Bender took first place honors in both the 200-meter backstroke (2:25.78) and the 800-meter freestyle (9:26.15). Thronbrough took the top spot in the 200-meter fly (2:27.22) and the 200-meter IM (2:31.72) while Trodden was first in both the 50-meter freestyle (28.12) and the 200-meter breaststroke (2:46.28).

Several other Black Bears had first place finishes on the day. Carmen Linden (Ottawa, Ontario) placed first in the 400-meter freestyle in 4:37.40 and was second in the 800-meter freestyle at 9:28.07. Lauren Dwyer (Orono, Maine) was strong in a pair of events as she won the 100-meter backstroke at 1:07.91 and placed second in the 100-meter fly at 1:08.84. Freshman Naja Harvey (Orono, Minn.) touched the wall first in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:15.55) and picked up a second place finish in the 100-meter fly with a time of 1:01.69. Erica Smrcina (North Falmouth, Mass.) had a solid showing in a pair of fly events as she won the 100-meter fly (1:05.99) and was second in the 200-meter fly with a time of 2:29.73. The Black Bears also had second place finishes from Courtney Mellish (Barrie, Ontario) who took second in the 200-meter backstroke at 2:29.87 and Kara Dubiel (Carefree, Ariz.) who was second in the 400-meter freestyle (4:46.89).

On the diving boards, Kara Capossela (Greenwich, Conn.) took home a pair of second place finishes. Capossela placed second in each diving event with scores of 234.52 and 245.32.

The women's 200-meter freestyle relay squad won with a time of 1:52.18 as Dwyer, Harvey, Trodden and Emily Puleio (Saco, Maine) teamed up for the win.

The men also had three Black Bears who picked up a pair of first place finishes. Yuri Chornobil (Rochester, N.Y.) placed first in both the 200-meter freestyle (2:00.96) and the 400-meter freestyle (4:16.95) while also placing second in the 800-meter freestyle (9:01.70). Andrew Meehan (Brewer, Maine) picked up first place finishes in the 100-meter fly (59.95) and the 200-meter freestyle (2:00.66). Brian Landry (Yorktown, Va.) also had a two win day as he touched the wall first in the 100-meter breaststroke at 1:08.60 and was first in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:29.98.

Michael Capossela (Riverside, Conn.) won the 800-meter freestyle event with a time of 8:57.61 while taking home second place in the 400-meter freestyle, touching the wall at 4:17.67. Ryan Fahey (Quincy, Mass.) placed won the 200-meter fly with a time of 2:16.59 while Zach Hamer (Andover, Mass.) had a pair of runner-up showings in both the 100-meter breaststroke (1:10.69) and the 200-meter breaststroke (2:36.07). Caleb Hoffman (Waterville, Maine) finished second in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 25.93.

The men's relay teams picked up two wins on the afternoon. Connor Devers (North Attleboro, Mass.), Landry, Eric Gaulin (Northport, Maine) and Meehan took first place honors in the 200-meter medley relay with a time of 1:51.92 while Meehan, Hoffman, Joey Quinn (Bangor, Maine) and Capossela teamed up for the win in the 200-meter freestyle relay (1:39.89).

The Black Bears return to action next Saturday, Jan. 21 when they travel to Bowdoin College for a 12 p.m. meet.

-U-M-