Women's Swim & Dive Posts Record-Breaking Dual Season

Friday, January 22

Fairfax, VA

12 PM

Army West Point

232

American University

Women's Swim & Dive Posts Record-Breaking Dual Season

January 22, 2016 | Women's Swimming and Diving

RESULTS

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Army West Point women's swimming and diving team defeated American (232-59) and George Mason (159-138) Friday afternoon to close-out a record-breaking dual-meet season with a record of 10-1 overall and 5-1 in the Patriot League.

"I am so proud of our team," said head coach Mickey Wender. "It is one of the most fun and productive dual-meet seasons I have ever been a part of. This group has shown amazing heart and consistency on a daily basis. I am really pleased with how we stayed focused and composed. We won the closes races as we came down the final stretch of the meet."

Army's 5-1 record in the Patriot League marks the program's first winning conference record since the league's inaugural season.

This season's 10-1 record ties the highest number of wins since the 88-89 season when Army finished at 10-2. It also ties lowest number of losses in a single season. Last time this was accomplished was in 86-87 when the Black Knights went 11-1.

The Black Knights won the first event of the day in the 200 medley relay. Kelly Hamilton, Jess Fabrizio, Molly Mucciarone and Bailey Smith earned the top time of 1:45.89. Kim Sembrano, Kara Wineinger, Shannon Rogers and Jenna Forrester were third with a time of 1:48.78.

Sabrina Mortell won the 1,000 free after touching the wall in 10:29.67. Sidney Evans was third with a time of 10:39.58 for Army.

Monica Sowinski and Julia Bush were the top finishers for the Cadets in the 200 free. Bush recorded a 1:54.69 to place second and was followed by Bush who had a time of 1:55.35 for third.

In the 100 back, Hamilton was the first-place finisher in 56.97, while Cecelia Croman (58.86), Kim Sembrano (59.69) and Kate Machorek (1:00.97) placed third-through-fifth, respectively.

Shannon Rogers placed second in the 200 fly for the Black Knights with a time of 2:08.57, and Teresa Groton was fifth in 2:11.53.

Mucciarone was the top finisher in the 50 free. She placed second after clocking a 24.02. Smith followed closely behind in 24.33, while Forrester tied for sixth (25.28).

Hamilton (51.58), Sowinski (53.33) and Bush (53.50) went two-three-four in the 100 free. Smith then won the 200 back with a time of 2:04.72.

In the 200 breast, Jess Burkett was Army's top finisher. She placed third after touching the wall in 2:24.68. She was followed by Jess Ambrose who was fifth with a time of 2:25.17.

Mortell earned another first-place finish in the 500 free. She finished in 5:08.29 to claim the top spot and was followed by Claire Willis who was second in 5:10.91.

Mucciarone (56.94) and Rogers (57.48) went one-two in the 100 fly to earn a critical 13 points for Army. Burkett and Evans then went one-two in the 400 IM to earn another 13 points. Burkett touched the wall in 4:30.80, while Evans did in 4:33.78. Mortell (4:37.05) and Kate Kinley (4:38.95) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the final relay of the night, Army placed first and third to clinch the meet over the George Mason. Hamilton, Bush, Smith and Rogers were first with a time of 3:30.92, while Mucciarone, Sowinski, Forrester and Jen Clay placed third in 3:35.34.

Jorie Mason saw success off the high-dive with a career-high mark. She earned first-place marks of 216.15 off the 3-meter, then placed second on the 1-meter with a score of 218.15, falling just 2.15 points shy of the first-place finisher.

"Our women have really come a long way," added Wender. "I'm so grateful for the leadership of our firsties, especially the last two seasons. They have helped create an amazing culture and expectation of excellence on a daily basis. I'm a little sad that the dual-meet season is over, but am looking forward to the championship phase. We're in a great position and the best is yet to come."

This is the second –straight season that the Black Knights have defeated George Mason, and are the only two times in program history. Army cut the Patriots' lead in the all-time series to 7-2, and increased its lead over American to 11-2.

The men's and women's programs combined for a 20-2 record this season. This is the first time the teams have combined for only two losses since the women's program's inaugural season in 1978-79.

Army returns to action next weekend when it travels to Annapolis, Md., for the Navy Invitational.

For up-to-date information about Army swimming and diving, please follow @ArmyWP_SwimDive on Twitter and Instagram.