CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After extended training trips during winter break, America East swimming and diving action is back for 2012. Vermont and Binghamton began the new year with solid performances.
Vermont sweeps the women’s awards this week while Binghamton picks up the Male Swimmer of the Week. Catamount junior Kailey Gardner (Ithaca, N.Y./Ithaca) collects Female Swimmer of the Week while teammate Lauren Colby (Andover, Mass./Andover) gets the Female Diver of the Week nod. Tim Cabasino nets his first Male Swimmer of the Week award of the season. No male divers competed last week.
Gardner picked up a pair of victories in Vermont’s loss to Central Connecticut on Monday night. The junior was victorious in the distance races taking first in the 500 (5:06.61) and 1,000 (10:20.24) freestyle events. Gardner has the conference’s top time in the 1,000 (10:19.04) set earlier this year.
Colby picks up her second diver of the week award this season after she captured first place in the one-meter dive at Central Connecticut on Monday. The senior scored 227.75 points to get the win.
Cabasino turned in one of the top performances for Binghamton at the Bob Mowerson Invitational over the weekend finishing second in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.11 at the long course meet. The junior finished just 11 tenths of a second behind the winner.
Binghamton rang in 2012 by competing at the Bob Mowerson Invitational in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on Jan. 6. The Bearcat men placed third and the women fourth in the overall team standings. Leading the way for the men were Andrew Ellman (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep) and Tim Cabasino (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach), who each posted second-place finishes in their respective events. Ellman clocked in at 33.12 in the 50 meter backstroke and Cabasino grabbed second in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.11. The women also put forth several second-place finishes on the day. In the 50-meter breaststroke, Corinne Zotter (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) touched the wall in 37.21. And in the 50-meter freestyle, Binghamton swept places two-through-four with Caitlin Kelly (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) leading the way in 28.63. The Bearcats are next in action this weekend when they host Buffalo.
Boston University’s women’s swimming and diving team returns to the pool on Jan. 14 at New Hampshire and both Terrier squads host Brown and Columbia on Jan. 28.
Maine is back in action on Jan. 14 at Providence after a two week training trip to Florida during winter break.
The 2012 portion of the swimming and diving schedule begins for UMBC on Jan. 14 in Washington, D.C. against Howard.
New Hampshire returns from break when it hosts Boston U. on Jan 16. at the Swasey Pool in Durham.
Stony Brook is off until Jan. 18 when it travels to Lafeyette to kick off 2012.
Vermont fell on the road at Central Connecticut State on Monday night, 168.5-131.5. Kailey Gardner led the Catamounts with two victories, as UVM falls to 7-2 on the season. Gardner won both the 500 (5:06.61) and 1,000 (10:20.24) freestyle events. Lauren Colby took first in the one-meter dive with a score of 227.75 and the freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay team made up of Katie Adams (Houston Texas, Cypress Creek), Ilsa Feierabend (Madison, Wis./Madison West), Emily Green (Lincoln, Neb./Northeast) and Kaitlyn Evarts (Vergennes, Vt./Vergennes) was victorious in a time of 3:41.04. Vermont returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Dartmouth at 3 p.m.