Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Photo by: DSPics.com
Photo by: DSPics.com
Posted: Feb 27, 2016

Abernethy becomes first diver in program history to win gold; Bulldogs in third after day three of NECs

Photos Video Results Preview

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University women's swimming and diving freshman diver Kelci Abernethy (Chandler, Ariz.) made school and Northeast Conference history on day three of the NEC Swimming and Diving Championships at MIT in Cambridge, Mass.

Abernethy became the first Bulldog diver to ever win a conference title and also set a new NEC standard as the divers produced 60 points to keep the Black and Gold in third place with 347 points. Wagner leads Central Connecticut 510-505 for first place heading into the final day.

Bryant's divers enjoyed an impressive showing on Friday as the quartet of freshmen finished 1, 4, 5 and 6. Abernethy set the new standard in the NEC, winning the 1 meter dive with a score of 255.30, more than 25 points better than the second diver. Stephanie Jennings (Elmont, N.Y.) finished fourth (219.95), Carissa Stemen (Naples, Fla.) finished fifth (213.50) and Ann Burdick (Glenmont, N.Y.) finished sixth (209.90).

Senior Lauren Doerrman (Oley, Pa.) grabbed the Black and Gold's other medal on Friday, finishing third in the 400 IM with a time of 4:27.64.

Several other swimmers also advanced to the 'A' and 'B' finals on Friday for the Black and Gold. Kelley Murphy (Salisbury, Md.) finished 11th in the 400 IM with a time of 4:35.62, while four Bulldogs made the 'B' final in the 100 fly. Taylor Poliseno (Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) finished ninth (56.50), Dana Yu (Bridgewater, N.J.) finished 10th (56.82), Samantha Torrez (Whittier Calif.) finished 12th (57.06) and Jamie Schaefer (Durham, N.C.) was 14th (57.61).

The Bulldogs also placed three in the finals of the 200 free. Erin Daly (Reading, Mass.) finished seventh (1:53.92), Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.) finished 10th (1:53.20) and Valeria Watson (Mexico City, Mexico) finished 12th (1:53.93).

In the 100 breast, Julia Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.) finished fifth with a new school-record time of 1:03.36, while Danielle Whitaker (Narragansett, R.I.) and Shannon Hickey (Bel Air, Md.) finished 14-15. Nicole Salzano (Elmwood Park, N.J.) just missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the 100 back (57.40) and Caitlin Dye (Natick, Mass.) added a 13th-place finish in the event.

The championship meet wraps up on Saturday with preliminary heats beginning at 10:00 a.m.