By Kelley Baylis, Swimming World College Intern
NORTON – The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) swimming showed impressive swims recently as well as some outstanding performances from Emily Martin, Christian Brindamour, and John Dunnett. This extremely talented conference is comprised of Babson, Clark, Coast Guard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mount Holyoke, Smith, Springfield, Wellesley, Wheaton, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
LOOKING BACK
On Nov. 8, Coast Guard defeated Wheaton College in a close meet on the women’s side, 152-142 and 166-119 on the men’s. MIT competed in its first dual meet against Springfield where the Engineers came out strong with wins on both sides, 229-71 for the men and 211-88 for the women.
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT)
MIT has already started off its season with a bang. Veronika Jedryka has strongly contributed to the women’s team success thus far. The sophomore had an incredible freshman year gaining All-American honors in the 200-yard freestyle relay as well as the 400-yard medley relay. At NEWMACS, Jedryka placed second in the 100-yard backstroke (57.37). Jedryka is definitely someone to look out for in freestyle and backstroke events this weekend. Senior Austin Fatham is finishing his final year right. The All-American swimmer placed seventh last year at NCAA in the 50 free with a best time of 20.04. Just missing the NCAA B cut this past weekend against Springfield in the 100-yard freestyle, Fathman is already showing signs of an incredible season.
WHEATON COLLEGE
The freshman class of Wheaton College has shown great potential so far in the season. John Dunnett has already brought in impressive times on the clock, such as a 1:02.48 in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Coast Guard meet on Nov. 8; the fastest breaststroke time of any of the Lyons. Jenna Hayden also shows signs of an incredible season, clocking in at a 1:01.45 in the 100-yard backstroke, a pool record.
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (WPI)
WPI men and women teams have both gotten off to a great start this season. Sophomore Emily Martin has shown great times in freestyle and IM events. Martin has already posted a 54.86 in the 100-yard freestyle, which is only .7 off her last year’s NEWMAC conference meet time of 54.14. Junior Alex Powers has demonstrated impressive strength in the backstroke events. With recent times of 54.48 in the 100 and 1:59.85 in the 200-yard backstroke, Powers is the current record holder in all three-backstroke events, which he broke in 2013.
BABSON COLLEGE
Babson junior An Truong started off his season with four individual school records in the 500-yard freestyle, 1000-yard freestyle, 1650-yard freestyle, and the 400-yard individual medley. So far this season, Truong has led the men’s team bringing in many points in the distance events. Another distance swimmer, on the women’s side, senior Kendall Ford is also the current record holder in the 500, 1000, and 1650-yard freestyle. Ford will be someone to watch as the record holder finishes out her final season.
CLARK UNIVERSITY
Clark University has gained an impressive freshman diver, Steven Castiglione, who recently set a new school record on the 1-meter diving board at a score of 249.59 (the old record was set by Jeffrey Rivkin at a score of 234.64 which was set in 2003). The new record holder is a diver to look for in upcoming meets. Sophomore distance swimmer Melissa Orzechowski has recently set new records in the 500-yard freestyle (5:07.89) and the 1000-yard freestyle (10:34.76). Already breaking records, this can only mean Orzechowski is setting herself up for a great season.
SMITH
Smith Pioneer junior Claire Dudek has shown great potential at the recent meets, winning the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:41.03. With a large women’s team, the Pioneers should produce some great swims for this upcoming season.
COAST GUARD
Coast Guard Bear senior Darlene Sao set a pool record in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:13.57 at the recent meet against Wheaton College. At last year’s NEWMACS, Sao finished third in the 100-yard freestyle at a time of 52.88, which was an impressive, (and highest) finish for any of the Coast Guard swimmers that weekend. Sao will finish out this last year and be someone to watch for in IM and freestyle events. All-American Senior Christian Brindamour never fails to impress. Against Wheaton, he broke the 100-yard freestyle pool record with a time of 46.66. Also gaining multiple wins that day, the NCAA Division III Champion in the 50-yard freestyle and ranked fifth in the 100-yard freestyle, will without a doubt finish his college swimming career with remarkable times.
MOUNT HOLYOKE
Mount Holyoke junior Cathleen Pruden’s accolades are endless. The NEWMAC All-Conference 400-yard individual medley champion won 41 races and set 10 school records last year. Pruden will be the woman to watch this season after such an incredible season last year.
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE
Springfield sophomore Emily Medeiros has clocked some great times thus far. Last year, Medeiros just missed the NEWMAC record with a time of 1:04.27 in the 100-yard breast as she claimed the title. Pride’s diver Jack Lewis seems to be getting stronger every meet. This past weekend, Lewis finished first on both the one and three meter boards, with scores of 283.35 and 302.70, but also topped national qualifying scores to round out his immaculate performance.
WELLESLEY
Wellesley senior Keelin Nave, current record holder in the 100, 200, and 500-yard freestyle as well as the 200-yard butterfly, has been contributing lots of points to the women’s team coming in first in the 100-yard freestyle at 54.53 and first in the 200-yard butterfly at 2:12.29. Watch for Nave to see if she will finish out her senior year resetting some of those records she holds.
COMING UP NEXT
November 14: Roger Williams vs. Wheaton College, at Wheaton College
November 15: Coast Guard vs. WPI, at WPI
November 15: Wheaton vs. Springfield and Keene State, at Springfield
November 15: Simmons vs. Wellesley, at Wellesley
November 15: Mount Holyoke vs. Westfield, at Westfield
November 15: Babson vs. MIT, Bowdoin, and Norwich, at MIT
Kelley Baylis is a sophomore swimmer on the Wheaton College women’s swim team, who is currently the school record holder in the 50 and 100 back. Prior to joining the Lyons, Baylis trained with the Wilton Y Wahoos in Connecticut.