AURORA - It was nearly a perfect day in the pool for the Wells College women's swimming team Saturday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Fellow Wells College swimmers, senior Tiffany Raymond, left, and junior Jackie Ross cheer on senior Kelsey Stafford in the 100 breaststroke as junior Michael Scharvella times her at a home meet against the College of St. Elizabeth Saturday afternoon.
Fellow Wells College swimmers, senior Tiffany Raymond, left, and junior Jackie Ross cheer on senior Kelsey Stafford in the 100 breaststroke as junior Michael Scharvella times her at a home meet against the College of St. Elizabeth Saturday afternoon.
The Express took first in every event except diving as they defeated the College of St. Elizabeth 70-24.
Wells Kelsey Stafford finished first in two events, with a personal best in the 100 freestyle (1:08.30), shaving four seconds off her best time. Stafford also won the 100 breaststroke (1:28.17). Both events are new to Stafford who is usually a distance swimmer.
“I started out a distance swimmer here and now I am being put in a bunch of sprint events,” Stafford said. “I had a long stroke when I came here my freshman year and I hit the plateau for my distance times. Now my sprint times have been going down so my coach has been having me swim as a sprinter.”
The switch seems to be suitable for Stafford who is focusing on bringing her 100 freestyle time down even further while improving on her breaststroke as well.
“The breaststroke is a new stroke for me so I am going to keep trying to improve with it,” Stafford said. “Before I was mainly just a freestyle swimmer so swimming the breaststroke has taken a lot of practice.”
As one of four seniors on the squad, Stafford was happy to see her teammates excel against the Eagles and has seen much improvement over her four years competing.
“The team chemistry and determination is 100 times better this year,” Stafford said. “We have a team of girls who are all working hard and pushing themselves to be their best and get further. The team is overall excelling and we have been having the best season so far.”
Stafford was also a part of the 200 medley relay team that took first (2:31.98) along with Sarah Sherboneau, Beverly Bauman and Margaret Gresok.
Also swimming well for the Express were Colleen Keegan, who won the 1000 freestyle (13:41.69) and took first in the 500 freestyle (6:44.45), Idolyn Villiotti won the 200 IM (2:43.78) and the 100 backstroke (1:14.84), while also swimming a leg of the first-place 200 freestyle relay (2:02.40) with Bauman, Tiffany Raymond and Jacqueline Ross.
Ross earned two first-place finishes with the top spots in the 100 butterfly (1:09.63) and the 50 freestyle (28.28), Raymond won the 200 freestyle (2:35.33), and Gwen Lillie took second place in both the 100 freestyle (13:59.60) and the 500 freestyle (6:51.29).
This is the swim team's first season as a part of the North Eastern Athletic Conference, where it will be able to compete for a conference championship.
“We are looking forward to being able to compete for a championship this year and for now we will continue to work hard and bring down our times,” Express coach Trish George said.
“It is intimidating this year because we will be competing in two championships now since we usually swim the state meet every season,” Stafford added.
“With the women we have on this team, we are doing so well and having such a fun season, everyone has positive attitudes and I am happy to be a part of it all.”
Express 70
Eagles 24
Wells Kelsey Stafford finished first in two events, with a personal best in the 100 freestyle (1:08.30), shaving four seconds off her best time. Stafford also won the 100 breaststroke (1:28.17). Both events are new to Stafford who is usually a distance swimmer.
“I started out a distance swimmer here and now I am being put in a bunch of sprint events,” Stafford said. “I had a long stroke when I came here my freshman year and I hit the plateau for my distance times. Now my sprint times have been going down so my coach has been having me swim as a sprinter.”
The switch seems to be suitable for Stafford who is focusing on bringing her 100 freestyle time down even further while improving on her breaststroke as well.
“The breaststroke is a new stroke for me so I am going to keep trying to improve with it,” Stafford said. “Before I was mainly just a freestyle swimmer so swimming the breaststroke has taken a lot of practice.”
As one of four seniors on the squad, Stafford was happy to see her teammates excel against the Eagles and has seen much improvement over her four years competing.
“The team chemistry and determination is 100 times better this year,” Stafford said. “We have a team of girls who are all working hard and pushing themselves to be their best and get further. The team is overall excelling and we have been having the best season so far.”
Stafford was also a part of the 200 medley relay team that took first (2:31.98) along with Sarah Sherboneau, Beverly Bauman and Margaret Gresok.
Also swimming well for the Express were Colleen Keegan, who won the 1000 freestyle (13:41.69) and took first in the 500 freestyle (6:44.45), Idolyn Villiotti won the 200 IM (2:43.78) and the 100 backstroke (1:14.84), while also swimming a leg of the first-place 200 freestyle relay (2:02.40) with Bauman, Tiffany Raymond and Jacqueline Ross.
Ross earned two first-place finishes with the top spots in the 100 butterfly (1:09.63) and the 50 freestyle (28.28), Raymond won the 200 freestyle (2:35.33), and Gwen Lillie took second place in both the 100 freestyle (13:59.60) and the 500 freestyle (6:51.29).
This is the swim team's first season as a part of the North Eastern Athletic Conference, where it will be able to compete for a conference championship.
“We are looking forward to being able to compete for a championship this year and for now we will continue to work hard and bring down our times,” Express coach Trish George said.
“It is intimidating this year because we will be competing in two championships now since we usually swim the state meet every season,” Stafford added.
“With the women we have on this team, we are doing so well and having such a fun season, everyone has positive attitudes and I am happy to be a part of it all.”
Express 70
Eagles 24
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