Ithaca Seeks 12th Empire 8 Women's Swimming & Diving Title
ROCHESTER, NY – Ithaca College, which has captured each of the 11 conference championships in women’s swimming and diving, will defend its title as Empire 8 teams compete at the Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association Swimming and Diving Championships tomorrow through Saturday at Webster Aquatic Center hosted by Nazareth College.
Senior Sheila Rhoades was selected as Empire 8 Women’s Swimmer of the Year last season after setting Association and school records in finishing third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.18 seconds) at the NCAA Championships. She also set Association marks in the 100-yard freestyle (4th in 50.78 seconds) and in the 200-yard freestyle (11th in 1:51.79) at the national meet. Rhoades, a four-time Athlete of the Week this season, swam on the Bombers’ 400-yard medley relay that placed sixth nationally in 2009-10.
Stevens Institute of Technology enters the championship ranked sixth in the CollegeSwimming.com/CSCAA Division III Poll. Junior Sian Pearson won the 200-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle in last year’s conference meet, setting Empire 8 championship records in each. Senior Laura Barito has automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in the 50-yard freestyle.
Carissa Risucci of Nazareth earned Empire 8 Rookie of the Meet honors at last year’s championship after winning the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes, qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championship in both events. She has posted the fastest time in the Empire 8 in the 200 breaststroke this season. Junior Rachael Phipps broke the school and pool records that stood for more than 10 years earlier this season in the 100 freetsyle.
Samantha McFarland of Hartwick College earned back-to-back Athlete of the Week recognition this season, setting an Oneonta pool record in the 200-yard freestyle.
Junior Melissa Harrison earned her first Athlete of the Week honor in January for Rochester Institute of Technology.
Senior Sarah Blair posted one win and two runner-up finishes for Alfred University in its dual meet with Ithaca.
Senior diver Ashley Van Patten of Utica College has won 14 of 16 events this season, placing second in the other two, and has qualified for the national championship on the one-meter board.