2008 Woodie Awards
Foxes capture MAAC title at Loyola (Md.)
Gabe Perna
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Sports
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Led by most outstanding performer, Jamie Falco and most outstanding diver, Melissa Mangona, women's swimming and diving head coach Larry VanWagner watched his team dominate on their way to a fourth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship last weekend at Loyola College.
The Red Foxes scored 899 points which was 203 points ahead of their closest competition in the Rider Broncs. The Foxes outright won over ten events and set numerous records on their way to a performance that not even coach VanWagner foresaw.
"Going into the year I knew we had the most talented team in the history of the college," VanWagner said. "But I didn't expect us to dominate that much. I usually score the meets themselves before they happen and when I did that I had Marist winning by seventy. I did not think we would win by over 200."
One of the brightest shining stars for the Foxes at the MAAC Championship was Falco, who set seven MAAC records. She set individual records in the 200-yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:04.24, the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 1:52.52, and the 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:03.08.
Falco was also a part of medley teams with seniors Kim Koehler and Lauren Malski, sophomore Sandra Bujalski and freshmen Jenell Walsh-Thomas and Lyndsay Martin that set four more records. VanWagner attributes Falco's success this year, where from the get-go she was setting records, to her dedication over the summer.
"Obviously every great athlete leads by example," VanWagner said. "Jamie showed me dedication when she decided to stay here and train with me throughout the summer season. That is the primary reason she started off so well and broke three MAAC records to begin the year. And her performance at the MAAC's is the completion of her dedication which began last spring."
Also coming up big for the Red Foxes was the senior Malski. She broke a record of her own by swimming 1:03.55 in the 100-yard breaststroke. VanWagner said her loss to graduation next year, along with fellow seniors Anna Sanner and Ashley Papuga, will definitely impact the team.
The Red Foxes scored 899 points which was 203 points ahead of their closest competition in the Rider Broncs. The Foxes outright won over ten events and set numerous records on their way to a performance that not even coach VanWagner foresaw.
"Going into the year I knew we had the most talented team in the history of the college," VanWagner said. "But I didn't expect us to dominate that much. I usually score the meets themselves before they happen and when I did that I had Marist winning by seventy. I did not think we would win by over 200."
One of the brightest shining stars for the Foxes at the MAAC Championship was Falco, who set seven MAAC records. She set individual records in the 200-yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:04.24, the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 1:52.52, and the 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:03.08.
Falco was also a part of medley teams with seniors Kim Koehler and Lauren Malski, sophomore Sandra Bujalski and freshmen Jenell Walsh-Thomas and Lyndsay Martin that set four more records. VanWagner attributes Falco's success this year, where from the get-go she was setting records, to her dedication over the summer.
"Obviously every great athlete leads by example," VanWagner said. "Jamie showed me dedication when she decided to stay here and train with me throughout the summer season. That is the primary reason she started off so well and broke three MAAC records to begin the year. And her performance at the MAAC's is the completion of her dedication which began last spring."
Also coming up big for the Red Foxes was the senior Malski. She broke a record of her own by swimming 1:03.55 in the 100-yard breaststroke. VanWagner said her loss to graduation next year, along with fellow seniors Anna Sanner and Ashley Papuga, will definitely impact the team.
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