Worcester, MA --- The WPI women's swimming and diving squad defeated Clark for the first time in over ten years Wednesday night in the Sports and Recreation Center.
On Senior night, the Crimson and Gray took 11 of 13 events on the program, including a win from senior Jess Lopez (Palmer, MA) in the 50-yard freestyle (26.55). The 129-95 victory brings the Engineers to a record of 8-3 on the season with one dual meet to go.
Sonja Kent (West Boylston, MA) was very strong for the Crimson and Gray, winning three individual events. The junior started off with a 11:07.59 in the 1000-yard freestyle to finish over 45 seconds ahead of the next competitor. She followed it up with a close race in the 200-yard individual medley, taking victory by only 0.23 seconds (2:19.01). Kent also captured the 500-yard freestyle (5:31.08).
Nysa Casha (Andover, MA) won both the 100-yard butterfly (1:01.80) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:12.83) comfortably. Senior captain Heather Peruffo (Poughkeepsie, NY) was third in butterfly (1:05.91) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:07.71). Kelsey Wall (Marshfield, MA) grabbed third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:18.47) and 200-yard individual medley (2:35.75).
Sophomore Taylor Briseno (Mansfield, MA) earned a first place finish in the 100-yard freestyle (1:00.49), in addition to third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:45.13). Classmate Kelin Song (Providence, RI) picked up third in the 50-yard freestyle (27.10). Freshman Amanda Konieczny (West Springfield, MA) won the 200-yard freestyle by a small margin (2:07.23), while captain Alex Sanz-Guerrero (Ann Arbor, MI) secured third (2:12.72).
Veronica Nikolaki (Athens, Greece) dove to first place in 1-meter diving (266.10). The freshman took second place on the 3-meter board, but her NCAA-qualifying score of 270.45 means that she will participate in the regional diving meet to earn the chance to compete at the NCAA Championships. Sam Sargalski (Windsor, CT) obtained third place points on the 3-meter plank (188.90).
The Engineer relays were triumphant to open and close the meet. The foursome of Song, Allison Indyk (LaGrange, NY), Casha, and Konieczny took the 200-yard medley relay in 1:58.79. Briseno, Song, Lopez, and Konieczny teamed up to finish first in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:59.93).
The Crimson and Gray head to Bridgewater State for their final dual meet of the season on Saturday starting at 2pm.
