2008 Woodie Awards
Women's swimming wins MAAC Championship
Justine DeCotis
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Sports
They did it again. The Marist Women's swimming and diving team won the MAAC Swimming and Diving Championships over the weekend in Baltimore for the fifth year in row.
This may have been the most unexpected victory of the five according to head coach Larry Van Wagner.
"Based on the original seeds heading into the MAAC's, the women were `supposed' to finish 135 points behind Rider," Van Wagner said. "After the dual-meet season they were the heavy, heavy favorites, but we did a fantastic job in this win. It has to be the biggest upset in MAAC history."
Rider defeated Marist during the season 175-125, but the Red Foxes were able to beat them when the stakes were higher.
Marist finished the three-day meet with 771 points, 56.5 ahead of Rider and 61 in front of third place Loyola. Iona placed fourth, followed by Niagara (5th), Siena (6th), Fairfield (7th), Canisius (8th), St. Peter's (9th) and Manhattan (10th). Marist took the lead after the first day of competition and did not relinquish the lead once.
On Friday, the first day of the meet, Marist was led by Jenell Walsh-Thomas who placed first in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:02.03. Walsh-Thomas won the same event in last year's MAAC Championships. Jamie Falco won the 200 yard individual medley in a time of 2:07.72 to also lead the Foxes. In diving action, Melissa Mangona placed second in the 1 meter board event. Rider's Amanda Burke won the event.
On the second day, Marist won the 800 yard freestyle event with the team of Emily Hammang, Walsh- Thomas, Sandra Bujalski, and Jamie Falco. Marist also won the 200 yard medley with Falco, Lyndsay Martin, Bujalski, and Madisen Walker. Walsh-Thomas also won the 1000 yard freestyle event to continue to lead the Foxes.
The Red Foxes entered the last day of competition with a slim four point lead over Rider. However, the lead only grew as the meet continued. Walsh-Thomas continued a very strong showing by winning her third individual event and fourth event overall. She placed first in the 1650 yard freestyle with a time of 17:25.69.
Marist associate head coach Melanie Bolstad was named MAAC Diving Coach of the Year following the meet. Marist has two weeks to savor the victory before competing in the ECAC Championships February 29-March 2.
This may have been the most unexpected victory of the five according to head coach Larry Van Wagner.
"Based on the original seeds heading into the MAAC's, the women were `supposed' to finish 135 points behind Rider," Van Wagner said. "After the dual-meet season they were the heavy, heavy favorites, but we did a fantastic job in this win. It has to be the biggest upset in MAAC history."
Rider defeated Marist during the season 175-125, but the Red Foxes were able to beat them when the stakes were higher.
Marist finished the three-day meet with 771 points, 56.5 ahead of Rider and 61 in front of third place Loyola. Iona placed fourth, followed by Niagara (5th), Siena (6th), Fairfield (7th), Canisius (8th), St. Peter's (9th) and Manhattan (10th). Marist took the lead after the first day of competition and did not relinquish the lead once.
On Friday, the first day of the meet, Marist was led by Jenell Walsh-Thomas who placed first in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:02.03. Walsh-Thomas won the same event in last year's MAAC Championships. Jamie Falco won the 200 yard individual medley in a time of 2:07.72 to also lead the Foxes. In diving action, Melissa Mangona placed second in the 1 meter board event. Rider's Amanda Burke won the event.
On the second day, Marist won the 800 yard freestyle event with the team of Emily Hammang, Walsh- Thomas, Sandra Bujalski, and Jamie Falco. Marist also won the 200 yard medley with Falco, Lyndsay Martin, Bujalski, and Madisen Walker. Walsh-Thomas also won the 1000 yard freestyle event to continue to lead the Foxes.
The Red Foxes entered the last day of competition with a slim four point lead over Rider. However, the lead only grew as the meet continued. Walsh-Thomas continued a very strong showing by winning her third individual event and fourth event overall. She placed first in the 1650 yard freestyle with a time of 17:25.69.
Marist associate head coach Melanie Bolstad was named MAAC Diving Coach of the Year following the meet. Marist has two weeks to savor the victory before competing in the ECAC Championships February 29-March 2.
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