Women’s swim and dive made a splash in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championships. The team made their way to Geneva, Ohio from Wednesday, Feb. 12 to Saturday, Feb. 15 for their first time competing in the MAAC championships since leaving the Northeast Conference (NEC). They finished fourth overall and broke five individual school records.
Source: Instagram, @shuswimdivecoach
Source: Instagram, @shuswimdivecoach
On the first day of the meet, sophomore Emma Haas, sophomore Kristen Baker, sophomore Sophia Velleco and senior Rosemery Nieto broke the school record in the 200m-medley relay with a time of 1:43.26, beating the previous record by three seconds and finishing fourth.
Velleco also broke three individual school records: the 500m freestyle, 200m freestyle, and the 200m butterfly, which broke a 14-year standing record set by Katie Marshall in 2011.
“It was amazing. When I looked up to the board and saw my time, I did not feel like I went that fast but just to see my parents’ and coaches’ reactions. I knew from there I got it,” said Velleco.
“That was the longest-standing record that we still had. And that was the one record nobody has broken yet in the 11 years that I’ve been here,” said Head Swimming Coach John Spadafina.
On day two, the diving team swept the three-meter with freshman Sinclair Yadao securing first place with a score of 255.80. In second was senior Lola Barrett with a score of 236.20. Freshman Phifey Boyers finished third with a score of 231.25.
“[The underclassmen] have definitely helped the team both in the swimming and diving aspect; they’ve played a big role in the success of the team this year,” said senior Melanie Sanchez. “I really can’t wait to see what they’re going to do in the next couple of years.”
On the third day, Sanchez kicked things off in the 100m-butterfly, breaking the school record and placing seventh, describing it as surreal.
On the final day of the meet, Yadao was able to take home gold in the one-meter dive. She won Diving Rookie of the Meet and MAAC Most Outstanding Diver, and diving coach Adam Vance was named MAAC Diving Coach of the Year.
“I know from what I’ve seen that [Yadao and Vance] are very hard-working people,” said Velleco.
“This is Adam’s fourth Coach of the Year at a championship in a row. He was a three-time NEC Diving Coach of the Year and now MAAC Diving Coach of the Year,” said Spadafina.
The Pioneers were able to make their mark at the MAAC championships and finished with a season record of 8-5.
“I think that the MAAC really underestimated us,” said Sanchez. “I think everyone was pretty shocked. They did not know what we were going to bring to the table.”
Women’s swim and dive now look ahead to the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championship in Ocala, Fla. on March 13 and 14.
Sacred Heart Athletics contributed to this article
