SWIMMING AND DIVING KNOCKS OFF NIAGARA AND SIENA COLLEGE

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The University of New Hampshire swimming and diving team defeated Niagara 213-85 and Siena College 191.5-102.5 in its season opening tri-meet this afternoon at Siena Swim Center.

UNH broke six pool records on the day, the most in a single meet by one team in the 11-year history of the facility.

The first came in the 200 medley relay as Mallory Morrell (Rush, N.Y.), Allison Nahin (Hartland, Wisc.), Amy Perrault (Kirkland Lake, Ontario) and Shelli Reed (Hollister, Calif.) led the Wildcats to a pool record 1:48.96 finish.  The Wildcats were at it again in the 200-yard freestyle relay, as they notched another pool record with a team time of 1:38.47.

Individually, the ‘Cats were just as stellar, as four Wildcats set individual pool marks on the day. Jessica Little (Barrie, Ontario) notched a time of 2:11.36 in 200-yard individual medley, Morrell clocked in at 24.11 in the 50-yard freestyle, Perrault posted a 58.77 time in the 100-yard backstroke and Reed a 52.48 time in the 100-yard freestyle.  

Aside from rewriting the history books, the Wildcats took home top honors in several other events on the day. Casey Albert (Enfield, N.H.) and Jessica Perry (Middleboro, Mass.) provided early spark for the ‘Cats as they placed first and second, respectively, in the 1000-yard freestyle, with times of 11:01.52 and 11:02.36.

Sydney Tribou (Belle Island, Fla.) would follow suit as she finished in first place with a time of 1:57.58 in the 200-yard freestyle, with Kelsey Gillespie (Falmouth, Maine) following close behind in fourth place, timing in at 2:02.33.

UNH also got strong production from Mattie Fowler (Farmington, Maine), who finished first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:11.80, nearly two seconds faster than Kaela Bjornberg, who finished in second.

Later in the meet, the Wildcats got a lift from Kiersten Wollenzien (Holland Landing, Ontario), who blazed through the water for a 2:12.35 first place finish in the 200-yard backstroke and Little who notched another first place finish, this time in the 200-yard breaststroke as she timed in at 2:25.34.

New Hampshire capped off the meet with Tribou and Perry leading the way in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in first and second place, respectively. Tribou timed in at 5:18.12, while Perry clocked in at 5:25.15. Perrault would also add to the lead in the 100-yard butterfly as she finished in first with a time of 58.41.

The Wildcats return to action on Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. when they hit the road to take on Wagner.