KINGSTON, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Swimming & Diving team took home the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving (NEISDA) championship crown on Sunday night, defeating 20 other teams in a four-day tournament hosted by the University of Rhode Island.
The four-day tourney at URI began early morning on Thurs., Feb. 16 and concluded Sun., Feb. 19. Roger Williams recorded a first-place score of 1452, accumulating 587.5 points.
What started as a 20-person recruiting class (12 men, eight women) for RWU last July turned into a championship-winning team for the swimming and diving program. Swimming and diving Head Coach Matt Emmert called this class last July one of the "most talented classes" they have ever recruited.
"This is the deepest and arguably one of the most talented classes we've brought to Roger Williams University," said Head Coach Matt Emmert last summer. "During the recruiting process, each of these athletes made a profound impression on our team and myself, with their ability to successfully balance academics and athletics.
"They're excited to make their mark on the future of RWU Swimming & Diving, while building upon the legacy established by previous classes before them. I cannot wait to get them in the mix with our returning team members and start training. Less than 60 days until our first official practice, but who's counting! It's a great day to be a Hawk!"
It could be said after the team's performance this weekend that not only did the freshmen class make their mark, but the program overall left a historical imprint in the form of a title that will certainly be the measuring stick for the swimming and diving program going forward.
A number of Hawks on the team were significant factors in the team's title run these past few days.
Senior Andrea Almandoz (Subbury, Mass.), freshman Kenzie Sweeney (Groton, Mass.), sophomore Gabrielle Pielka (Mahwah, N.J.), junior Shantelle Richards (Nashua, N.H.), junior Alyssa Bush (Adams, Mass.), freshman Allison Surian (Burlington, Conn.), senior Shannon Earley (Orange, Conn.), senior Brittany Cuevas (Holliston, Mass.) and sophomore Casey Klein (Newtown, Conn.) were a few of the Hawks among multiple others who finished with personal bests in various events over the tournament's four days.
Along with Almandoz, Earley and Cuevas, senior Margaret Pegno (Manhassat, N.Y.) is also one of the four senior who will graduate this spring from the swimming and diving program with a NEISDA championship win under their belts.
Simmons College, Keene State College, Brandeis University, University of New England, Regis College, Eastern Connecticut State University, Gordon College, Westfield State University, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Colby-Sawyer College all finished in the upper half of the NEISDA tourney also.
Written by Andrew Wuebker
