Bulldogs top Wagner in home opener
Bryant wins 11 of 14 events to improve to 2-0 on year
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by three individual victories from senior Casey Ostrander (Yarmouthport, Mass.) and junior Taylor DeBever (Denver, Colo.) and two outstanding relay victories, the Bryant University women's swimming and diving team picked up a 151-111 victory over Wagner College Saturday afternoon at the Chace Atheltic Center.
Coming off a stellar victory at Boston College last week, the Bulldogs looked sharp in their home opener against NEC Conference foe Wagner. Bryant captured victories in 11 of the 14 events on the afternoon to move to 2-0 on the year and 1-0 in conference.
Ostrander helped get things off on the right foot as she and teammates Brianne Dwyer (Hicksville, N.Y.), Dana Yu (Bridgewater, N.J.) and Mara Valenzuela (Bridgewater, N.J.) took first in the 200 medley relay in a pool record time of one minute, 49.57 seconds.
Ostrander would take individual honors in the 100 back, 50 free, and 200 back on the day. DeBever, who helped Bryant's 400 yard free relay team of Kaitlin Buckley (Duxbury, Mass.), Valenzeula, and Yu pick up another pool record with a first-place time of 3:37.21. DeBever looked strong in the freestyle on the day as the junior took first in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle.
Her first-place time of 5:10.84 was just shy of her own pool record of 5:08.96 set last winter.
Swimming in her first collegiate meet at home, freshman Julia Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.) had a fantastic day for the Black & Gold. Messina took home a pair of first-place finishes on the day, winning the 100 breast in a pool record time of 1:07.78 and later in the 200 breast in 2:27.58 to earn Swimmer of the Meet honors.
Yu, also making her home debut, captured first-place in the 100 fly in a time of 59.53.
Bryant will travel to Providence College on Friday.
Score: Bryant 151, Wagner 111
Bryant Individual Winners:
200 Yard Medley Relay – Bryant, 1:49.57*
200 Free – Taylor DeBever, 1:55.04
100 Back – Casey Ostrander, 58.38
100 Breast – Julia Messina, 1:07.78*
50 Free – Casey Ostrander, 24.56
100 Free – Taylor DeBever, 53.68
200 Back – Casey Ostrander, 2:09.40
200 Breast – Julia Messina, 2:27.58
500 Free – Taylor DeBever, 5:10.84
100 Fly – Dana Yu, 59.53
400 Free Relay – Bryant, 3:37.21*
*pool record
Pool Records:
100 Breast – Julia Messina, 1:07:78 (old record 1:08.12)
200 Medley Relay – Bryant's Casey Ostrander, Brianne Dwyer, Dana Yu, Mara Valenzuela, 1:49.57 (old record 1:50.40)
400 Yard Free Relay – Bryant's Taylor DeBever, Kaitlin Buckley, Mara Valenzuela, Dana Yu, 3:37.21 (old record 3:37.57)
Swimmer of the Meet: Julia Messina
Teammate of the Week: Taylor DeBever
