The women’s swimming and diving team continued their winning streak during winter break, achieving a perfect record of 10–0.
In the most recent College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division III Swimming and Diving Poll, released Jan. 12, the Bombers received 31 points, ranking them 27th in the nation.
The Bombers traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for their annual winter training trip. While there, they competed in a non-scoring tri-meet against Wabash College (Ind.) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Senior Sheila Rhoades won the 100-yard freestyle in 54.4 seconds and sophomore Carly Jones won the 100-yard individual medley in 1:04.4.
The South Hill squad competed in a tri-meet on Jan. 15 and improved their record to 9–0 after defeating both Fredonia and Nazareth. The Bombers beat Fredonia 192–108 and crushed Nazareth 214–82.
Rhoades swept in the sprint freestyle events. She won the 50-yard free in 24.84, the 100-yard free in 53.13 and the 200-yard free in 1:56.71. Rhoades’ time in the 100-yard freestyle broke a pool record, which she previously held, and earned her third Empire 8 Conference Athlete of the Week award this season.
Jones placed first in the 100-yard butterfly in 1:00.21 and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:13.94. Junior Missy Keesler won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:15.87, freshman Kate Sessler won the 500-yard freestyle in 5:26.98 and sophomore Madi Sherry won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:09.02.
On the diving boards, graduate student Naomi Mark placed second on the 1-meter with a score of 222.30 and junior Jodi Costello was second on the 3-meter with a score of 234.50.
The Blue and Gold started the meet with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay by finishing in 1:52.74. The relay team was made up of freshman Carlene Ostromecki, Sherry, Jones and Sessler. The Bombers closed off the meet with a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:42.38 by Rhoades, senior Joanna Ferreri, freshmen Elizabeth Gawrys and Sessler.
The Bombers honored their seniors in their last home meet in Hill Center Pool on Jan. 22. The senior class includes Emily Britz, Caitlyn Elder, Julie Erhart, Ferreri, Emily Griffin, Katie Kaiser, Maddie Kennedy, Mark, Rhoades, Jillian Santer, and Sarah Winder.
The South Hill squad improved to 10–0 after defeating Rochester 204–96. The 400-yard medley team set the tone with a victory as Keesler, Sherry, Jones, and Rhoades won in a pool-record time of 4:03.13.
Rhoades also won in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.95 and the 100-yard free in 52.37. Both her times met the NCAA B qualifying standard.
Jones won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:30.30 and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:11.59. Sherry won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:09.26.
In diving, Costello placed first in the 1-meter with a score of 253.75 and Mark finished second with 246.60. The duo also placed first and second on the 3-meter board, Costello scoring 238.35 and Mark scoring 236.65.
The Bombers closed with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:40.75 with the squad comprising of Gawrys, Ferreri, Sessler, and Rhoades.
The Blue and Gold return to dual-meet competition Jan. 29 against Empire 8 opponent Alfred University.
