October 16, 2010

BRYANT WOMEN'S SWIMMING DEFEATS WAGNER 139-123 IN HOME OPENER

RESULTS

Sophomore Molly Smith of Belmont, Mass. captures first-place in the women's 100 yard breaststroke in Saturday's win over Wagner College at the Chace Center.  (Athletic Communications photo)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's swimming team opened the 2010-11 home season in strong fashion Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs won 10 of 14 scheduled events to pick up a 139-123 victory over visiting Wagner College at the Chace Athletic Center.

Looking to avenge a season-opening loss to the Seahawks a year ago on Staten Island, the Bulldogs got several outstanding performances Saturday from several veterans, as well as a couple of newcomers, to earn their first victory of the season.

Bryant set the tone early as the 200 medley relay team of Casey Ostrander (Yarmouthport, Mass.), Brianne Dwyer (Hicksville, N.Y.), Abby Whittaker (Salisbury, Mass.) and Amy D'Olympia (Mattapoisett, Mass.) got things started on the right foot with a first-place finish in a time of 1:52.09. 

Two events later, freshman Taylor DeBever (Denver, Colo.) turned in a brilliant race in making her home debut as a member of the Bryant swim team by winning the 200 yard freestyle.  DeBever's time of 1:56.14 was not only a new pool record, but also broke the old school record as well.   

Freshman Taylor DeBever won three events and set a new pool and school record in Saturday's win over Wagner College (Athletic Communications photo).

The win was the first of three on the day for DeBever who also took top honors in the 200 backstroke in 2:09.05 and the 500 yard freestyle in 5:13.38, setting new Chace Center pool records in both events respectively.

Fellow freshman Katelyn Kidney (Lynn, Mass.) also had an excellent afternoon in her first home meet as she took third in the 1000 freestyle in 11:23.91 in the meet's second event, and later captured a first-place finish in the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:14.60.

Ostrander picked up right where she left off after a record-breaking freshman season a year ago.  After helping the 200 medley relay team in the opening event, the sophomore took first place honors in three individual events including a pool-record 58.11 first in the 100 backstroke.  Ostrander would later take top honors in the 50 free (24.86) and 100 free (54.21). 

Classmate Molly Smith (Belmont, Mass.), also coming off a great freshman season a year ago, looked strong as well with a first-place finish in the 100 breastroke in 1:10.89 and later in the 200 breastroke in 2:32.96.

The Bulldogs will return to action next Saturday in a tri-meet at Boston University with the University of Maine also competing.