RESULTS
PLYMOUTH, N.H. - The Norwich University men's and women's swimming & diving team enjoyed historic success in their final dual meet of the season against Plymouth State University and Husson University on Saturday morning.
The Cadet men rolled to 252-28 and 201-96 wins over the Panthers and Eagles, respectively, while the women cruised past Plymouth State, 185-69, while just narrowly falling to Husson, 141-138. En route, the Cadet men and women shattered 12 pool records at Plymouth State's Natatorium.
The Norwich men kicked off their dominant showing with a first-place 3:42.54 effort in the 400 yard medley relay, behind a team of
Adrian Riendeau (Ridgecrest, Calif.),
Will Thompson (Downington, Pa.),
Benjamin Stark (Montverde, Fla.), and
Martin Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.). Thompson followed that up by earning the Cadets' first individual win in the 200 yard IM with a 2:11.00, breaking the pool record in the process.
Hannah Shaner (Gilbertsville, Pa.) put the Norwich women on the board with an impressive 2:08.70 effort in the 200 yard freestyle, while Adlianitski gave Norwich a sweep in the event with an individual victory on the men's side with another pool record-breaking effort.
The Cadet men earned wins in three straight ensuing events, as Riendeau,
Gio Giovenco (Alexandria, Va.) and Stark claimed the 50 yard backstroke, 50 yard breaststroke, and 200 yard butterfly, respectively, all of which also broke pool records.
Nikky Avise (Owens Cross Roads, Ala.) began her tear through the competition behind a pool record-breaking 25.20 time to claim the 50 yard freestyle, before returning just a few events later to post another pool record-breaking 55.35 and win the 100 yard freestyle. Sandwiched in between was a narrow first-place showing by
Aidan Grady (Sandwich, Mass.), whose 228.25 gave the Cadets a victory in 1 meter diving competition.
Norwich again enjoyed three-straight subsequent pool record-breaking victories on the men's side, courtesy of Adlianitski in the 200 yard backstroke,
Michael Cowenhoven (Fairfield, Conn.) in the 200 yard breaststroke, and Stark in the 500 yard freestyle.
Avise returned for her final individual competition of the day, breaking a 36-year old pool record set by former Norwich swimmer Lynn Kucera in the 50 yard butterfly with a 26.93 time, over two seconds better than a competitor from Plymouth State.
Reilly Laitala (Sterling, Mass.) and
Jack Brennan (Hopkinton, Mass.) swept the final two diving competitions in the 3 meter dive, before
Arthur Abrams (Hopewell Junction) closed Norwich's individual efforts with a win in the 100 yard IM.
The Cadet men wrapped up the day's festivities in the 200 yard freestyle relay by edging past Husson's A team by 87 milliseconds, with legs swam by Stark, Adlianitski, Cowenhoven, and
Derek Furtado (Plymouth, Mass.), all the while breaking the pool record set by Western Connecticut State earlier this year.
"We could not have asked for a better meet to end our dual meet season with. The competition was excellent, and we came to battle," Head Coach
Jennifer Cournoyer said. "Nikky breaking three pool records with one being Lynn Kucera's 50 fly record from 1987 was special. Husson was the stronger of teams today for the women, but our team stepped up and really challenged them."
"There were many electrifying events for the men, with the crowd pushing their team. That is always so much fun," Cournoyer continued. "Today's meet I feel has really given us a push to take on GNACs in two weeks. We are taking a select few to the Middlebury Invite to acquire some times and scores."
The Cadets will now look ahead to the Middlebury Invite, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Natatorium, where selected team members will compete.
