COMPLETE RESULTS
COLLEGE PARK, MD --- The University of Mary Washington captured the 2023-24 NJAC Women's Swimming and Diving title at the inaugural conference championship meet, held on the campus of the University of Maryland from Feb. 15-18.
The title was the 33rd conference title in UMW program history and first as a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference after joining this year as an affiliate member.
The Eagles claimed conference gold medals in four events (100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley), going 1-2 in both breaststroke events and sweeping the 200 IM podium. They also won three relays, including both the 200 and 400 medley relays and the 200 freestyle relay. In total, UMW claimed medals in 13 different events.
Team Standings
1. Mary Washington - 1,204
2. Salisbury - 1,032
3. Montclair State - 1,004
4. Rowan - 947
5. Kean - 797
6. Merchant Marine - 707
7. TCNJ - 700
8. Roger Williams - 565
9. Ramapo - 267
10. William Paterson - 189
SUNDAY RECAP
The NJAC women hit a total of six NCAA 'B' cut times on the final day of competition.
Rowan's Ella Pennington earned two NCAA times in the 200 backstroke, clocking a 2:01.33 in the prelim and a 2:01.39 in the final for the gold medal. UMW's Phoebe Root finished second (2:04.71) and Roger Williams' Kate Wieler (2:07.31) earned the bronze medal.
UMW's Bridget Zagrobelny and Kinsey Brooks went 1-2 in the 200 breaststroke, both hitting 'B' cut times in the prelims and finals. Zagrobelny claimed gold with a 2:17.42; she earlier swam an NCAA time of 2:18.89 in the prelim. Brooks earned silver by touching in 2:20.03 after sitting atop the sheet in the prelim at 2:18.01. They were joined on the podium by Salisbury's Maddie Powell (2:22.18).
Earlier in the afternoon, Merchant Marine's Deirdre McCafferty kicked off the final session of the final day with a gold-medal-winning 17:21.43 in the 1650 freestyle. Salisbury placed two on the podium, as Leah Gude (17:42.63) earned silver and Olivia Totaro (17:44.03) picked up bronze.
Kean's Emma Bellars won the first of two gold medals for the Cougars, claiming the top spot in the 100 freestyle with a winning 52.22. Roger Williams' Gabby Carr was once again on the podium, earning silver with a time of 52.36. Montclair State's Rourke Peralta also won another medal, picking up bronze in 52.39.
UMW's Bridget Wilson won the final individual gold of the weekend, touching first in the 200 butterfly (2:06.37). Salisbury's Lily Griffin won her second butterfly medal of the weekend, clocking a 2:06.64 for silver. Montclair State's Madeline Rogers placed third (2:07.42).
The weekend wrapped up with Kean winning the 400 freestyle relay, edging Montclair State by 19-hundredths of a second. The Cougars' quartet of Bellars, Taylor Jacobson, Sydney Stemley, and Naomee Miller combined for a 3:34.37. MSU's group of Peralta, Julie Tiedemann, Catty Geyer, and Juliana Skopp-Cardillo finished in 3:34.58. Rowan rounded out the tight thrilling race in 3:34.90, as Pennington, Elizabeth Jones, Barbara Mora, and Laura Jones combined for the bronze.