February 15th,
Middletown, CT

The Colby women's Swimming and Diving Team finished the NESCAC Championship meet on Sunday in 3rd place. It is the highest the team has ever finished and the team score was over 150 points higher than they had ever scored. Great swims and dives were had all around with 14 school records being broken, 4 individual event winners, 1 relay win and senior Avery Rappaport being named NESCAC co-diver of the year.

After a very exciting first two days of the meet, the Mules cam out strong once again on Saturday. Finals started out with another historical milestone as the Mules won their first ever NESCAC relay in the 200 Medley. The team of Alexis Coates, Kellen Mottl, Caitlin Lacey and Eliza Marco won the event by almost an full second and in the course of doing so not only set a new school record but also set the pool record. Their time in that relay (1:41.39) currently sits top 5 in Division 3. In the 1000 freestyle Savannah Lombardi placed 7th with the 4th fastest time in school history (10:27.75). She was joined in the event by Iris Freeman who was 17th (10:43.03 11th in school history) and Carter Meagher who finished 18th (10:43.04.)

In the next event the 100 butterfly, the Mules would have 4 of their top 5 swimmers in school history go. Lacey set the pace as she placed 4th in school record time of 55.86. Lexi Asch placed 8th (56.13 p- 2nd all time), Aria Kapoor placed 16th (56.79 p -3rd all time) and Zoe Antonio placed 20th (57.19 p- 5th all time).
They were followed in the next event, the 400 IM by Abby Bauman who finished 16th.

In the 200 Freestyle Savannah Lombardi swam to another school record (1:52.55 p) with a 7th pace finish. Zoe Buzzelli scored 10th in the event and was followed by Lucey Mackey (1:54.85 - 9th in school history) in 18th and Anna Coleman in 23rd.

Kellen Mottl picked up her second win of the meet in the 100 breaststroke with a winning time of 1:02.50. Rhiannon Myhre also placed 12th in the event swimming the 5th fastest time in school history (1:05.77 p.) The 100 backstroke saw two Mules in the final with Coates getting second (55.58) and Tahlia Crowley swimming to 7th (56.79.)  They were also joined by Zoe Fencil who placed 14th.

Saturday concluded with Avery Rappaport winning the 3 M diving competition. Kira Johnson placed 9th in the event and Clara Ursu placed 17th.

Sunday once again started off strong with the 1650 and a 6th place finish by Bauman (17:27.72 5th in school history.) Freeman and Meagher also had strong swims and placed 15th and 16th. In the 200 Backstroke Coates continued her record setting meet and swam to a school record (2:01.05 p) and a second place finish. Also finishing top 16 in the event was Fencil (9th) and Annabelle Mullin (12th.) The 100 freestyle would follow with Marco getting 7th, Zoe Buzzelli 11th (51.91 4th in school history), and Mackey getting 17th (52.06 5th in school history.) 

In the 200 breaststroke Kellen Mottl swam to a 4th place finish in the second fastest time in school history, 2:18.22. The third fastest time in school history was swum by Myhre (2:22.28 p) as she placed 7th. Olivia Cauley also swam to a 15th place finish with the 9th fastest time in school history (2:27.57 p) and Mary Kate Daniel placed 23rd, In the final individual event, the 200 butterfly, Aria Kapoor placed 10th (2:05.51) with the second fastest time in school history and Zoe Antonio swam placed 15th with the 3rd fastest time in school history (2:07.32 p.)

The meet concluded with the 400 Freestyle relay and a 4th place finish by Colby. the team of Lacey, Marco, Lombardi and Buzzelli swam the second fastest time in school history. Also the B relay of Mackey, Coates, Abby Bartolacci and Anna Coleman swam the 5th fastest time in school history.

A historic season already for the Mules they look forward continuing their accomplishments at the NCAA Championships March 18th - 21st in Indianapolis. Qualifiers for the meet will be announced February 24th.