Ithaca Wins 15th Title
Saturday's Results
Final Standings
WEBSTER, N.Y. – Ithaca won the Empire 8 Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship for the 15
th time on Saturday at Webster Schroeder High School in Webster, NY. The Bombers accumulated 891 points, just 39 in front of second-place Stevens. Hartwick placed third with 515 points. In total on Saturday, E8 athletes earned nine NCAA B cut times.
Nazareth sophomore Cameron Hess defended her title in the 1,650 Freestyle in 17:07.91. Her time bested the 2014 NCAA Invite mark. Stevens’ sophomore Danielle Caruso placed second in the event (17:28.00) while 2012 champ Gwen Mathias of Hartwick took third in 17:31.48.
A trio of senior vied for the top spot in the 100 Freestyle with only .16 seconds separating them. April Lawson of Stevens claimed the championship for the second straight season in 52.59. Alfred’s Chrissy Behr was second in 52.73. Stevens’ Nicole Miller took third place (52.75).
Ithaca went 1-2-3 in the 200 Backstroke event. For the second straight year, sophomore Grace Ayer and senior Kylie Bangs placed 1-2. They were separated by only 0.51 seconds. Ayer’s time was 2:03.21 with Bangs coming in at 2:03.72. Both were NCAA B times. Megan Buisman took third place in 2:05.60.
Stevens senior Brittany Geyer won for the second consecutive year in the 200 Breaststroke. Her performance of 2:20.35 beat last year’s NCAA invite time. Nazareth’s Kimberly Pedrotti was second (2:26.44) with Stevens freshman Katie Prescott placing third (2:26.87).
Wrapping up the championships was the 400 Free Relay. Stevens took the crown for the seventh straight year. April Lawson, Nicole Miller, Jenn Rutledge, and Danielle Caruso combined for a B time of 3:30.85. Ithaca took second with Hartwick placing third.
Post-Meet Awards:
Female Swimmers of the Meet: Brittany Geyer (Stevens)
Female Diver of the Meet: Nickie Griesemer (Ithaca)
Female Rookie of the Meet: Sarah Jurczyk (Stevens)
Female Coach of the Year: Paula Miller (Ithaca)
2015 Empire 8 Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships Day Final Standings:
Ithaca – 891
Stevens – 852
Hartwick – 515
Nazareth – 456
Alfred – 300
Utica – 137