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Abernethy wins NEC Diver of the Meet; Locurto named NEC Diving Coach of the Year
Posted: Feb 27, 2016

Abernethy wins NEC Diver of the Meet; Locurto named NEC Diving Coach of the Year

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SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Freshman diver Kelci Abernethy (Chandler, Ariz.) took home Northeast Conference Diver of the Meet honors and head diving coach Chuck Locurto was named NEC Diving Coach of the Year as the Bryant University women's swimming and diving team finished competition at the NEC Championships on Saturday at MIT.

The Bulldogs finished the four-day event with 543 points, good enough for third place. Central Connecticut won its second-straight title with 797 points and Wagner finished second with 727 points.

Abernethy becomes the first diver in program history to earn diver of the year honors, while Locurto picks up his first coach of the year honor. A day after winning the 1 meter dive, Abernethy finished her sweep with 250.25 points in the 3 meter dive. Classmate Ann Burdick (Glenmont, N.Y.) finished second with 230.85 points and Stephanie Jennings (Elmont, N.Y.) finished seventh (210.80).

Senior Jamie Schaefer (Durham, N.C.) and junior Erin Daly (Reading, Mass.) also picked up medals on the final day for the Bulldogs. Schaefer finished third in the 200 fly with a time of 2:04.39 and Daly earned a bronze in the 1650 free with a time of 17:28.99.

The Bulldogs had a big performance in the 200 fly as three swimmers reached the finals in the event. Lauren Doerrman (Oley, Pa.) finished fifth (2:07.25), Samantha Torrez (Whittier, Calif.) finished 11th (2:08.50) and Taylor Poliseno (Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) finished 16th (2:12.64).

Senior Julia Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.) finished sixth in the 200 breast (2:19.68) and Danielle Whitaker (Narragansett, R.I.) and Shannon Hickey (Bel Air, Md.) finished 13-14 in the event. Sophomore Nicole Salzano (Elmwood Park, N.J.) led a group of three finalists in the 200 back, placing fifth (2:03.19). Valeria Watson (Mexico City, Mexico) finished eighth and Kelley Murphy (Salisbury, Md.) finished 15th.

Mackenzie Kirk (San Jose, Calif.) and Jillian Rice (Trumbull, Conn.) each added 12th-place finishes. Kirk finaled in the 1650 free, while Rice finished 12th in the 100 free.