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(10/04/18 9:51am)
A strong finish in the fourth quarter lifted the Panther football team over the Colby Mules this past Saturday in Maine. Out-scoring its opponent by 14 points in the 4th quarter, the Middlebury team took home its second win of the season, 31-14.
Last week, Coach Bob Ritter wanted the team to “concentrate on the things [they] can control,” such as being in the right place to capitalize on opportunities. This past weekend, the Panther defense took this to heart, as they forced five Mule turnovers in an effort to improve their record.
Defensive execution on part of the Panthers kept Colby at arm’s length. Three of four Mule fumbles resulted in Middlebury possession, which allowed the Panthers to have not only more opportunities to score, but also prevented Colby control of the ball.
Charles Roselle ’21 and Matthew Daniel ’19 accounted for two interceptions of the game. Daniel returned the interception for 32 yards and a pick-six in the fourth quarter, further increasing the Panther lead and ultimately assisting the Panther win.
The intensity of the Middlebury defense, mixed with a great effort on part of the Panther offense, characterized the second half of the game. It all started, however, in the first quarter.
After Middlebury’s first drive of the game in the first few minutes, a Mule punt returner dropped a Maxwell Rye ’20 kick, which was recovered by Will Jernigan ’21. A subsequent connection between senior quarterback Jack Meservy ’19 and junior tight-end Frank Cosolito led to the first score of the day, with the Panthers leading 7-0.
Following a scoreless second quarter, the second half came with successive turnovers. Colby scored an equalizer touchdown in the 3rd quarter, but Middlebury’s Carter Massengill ’20 hit a 25-yard field goal to regain the lead, 10-7, before the end of the third.
The Panther offense then took control of the game, scoring two offensive touchdowns and Daniel’s pick-six, cementing their win against the Mules, 31-14.
Jonathan Hobart ’21 led Middlebury in tackles, with six solo and four assists. Conrado Banky ’19 accounted for 38 receiving yards on the day (1 for 38) as Jernigan ran for 79 yards (11 for 79) and passed for 95 (7 for 95).
The Panthers will take on the Amherst Mammoths at Middlebury this upcoming weekend, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
(09/27/18 10:01am)
The Middlebury football team tacked on its first win of the season for the Panthers’ 2018 home opener, taking down the Bowdoin Polar Bears, 37-24.
Increasing the rush game by 317 yards and total yardage by 247 yards from the previous week, the Panthers defeated the Polar Bears in the last quarter of the game. For the first three quarters, both teams kept one another on high alert. Momentum flipped back and forth as the game approached halftime.
Head Coach Bob Ritter was pleased with how the team kept their composure throughout the bout and finished the game strong.
“I told the team I was pleased at our resilience during the game,” Coach Ritter said. “Despite going behind and having some big plays go against us we kept our composure and continued to play with the intensity I like to see.”
Middlebury capitalized on a few key plays in the first half that provided a cushion for the team throughout the game. Led by quarterback Jack Meservy ’19 in the first and second quarters, the Panthers put 23 points on the scoreboard, along with a safety caused by a blocked punt on part of the defense, which gave the squad some leeway.
Two Bowdoin touchdowns and a field goal, however, kept the competition in play during the first half. By the end of the second quarter, the Panthers had only a five-point lead over the Polar Bears.
However, a combination of key plays in the fourth quarter and an upheaval of Middlebury intensity brought the Panthers to victory over their NESCAC opponent.
The third quarter only saw one touchdown. With about one minute left before the fourth, Bowdoin tossed a 20-yard touchdown and completed the two-point conversion to take the lead by one point, 24-23.
Backup quarterback Will Jernigan ’21 took control of the game in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. The team traveled 48 yards in nine plays to set itself up for a Jernigan touchdown. His 16-yard touchdown run regained the lead for the Panthers, but a failed PAT attempt kept a mere five-point lead. Though the Panthers were winning, they were far from safe.
Around the seven-minute mark, Conrado Banky ’19 drove through the end zone for the final score of the game. The completion of a two-point conversion set the Panthers up for victory, 37-24.
The Middlebury defense put on a show, intercepting three Bowdoin passes, causing a fumble and blocking a punt, all of which set up the offense for scoring opportunities. Jonathan Hobart ’21 was chosen as NESCAC defensive player of the week, in response to his interception, fumble recovery and nine tackles against the Polar Bears. Coltrane Marcus ’20 also posted an impressive performance with 12 solo tackles and 13 total.
Offensively, the O-Line, comprised of Kevin Woodring ’20, Chris Taylor ’19, Connor Roche ’19, Andrew Rogan ’19, Ian Arthur ’19 and Jack Purcell ’20 opened the way for Peter Scibila ’21, who rushed 184 yards on 22 carries, one of which included a touchdown.
According to Ritter, the team will do everything in its power to keep improving.
“[We will be] making sure we are concentrating on the things we can control so we are putting ourselves in position to make plays,” Ritter said.
The Panthers will travel to Waterville, Maine, next Saturday to face the Colby Mules for their third game of the season.
(09/20/18 10:00am)
The Panther Football team suffered its first loss of the season this past Saturday while on the road at Wesleyan, falling to the Cardinals 52-21. Though the team started the season with a loss, the players work to improve upon their game this upcoming weekend against Bowdoin.
Middlebury heavily relied on its passing game to increase its offensive yardage. In comparison to Wesleyan’s 155 passing yards, the Panthers recorded about 100 more passing yards than the Cardinals.
The first drive of the game emphasized the strength of the passing game for the Panther offense, as quarterback Jack Meservy led the team down the field in nine plays. Middlebury scored the first 7 points of the game in the first quarter.
Wesleyan, however, took the panthers initial momentum and flipped the game quickly, first answering with a touchdown of their own, and then using a Middlebury turnover to claim the lead.
By halftime, the panthers were down by 10 points, but could not make up for the deficit. Wesleyan hit the field stronger in the second half, outscoring the Panthers by 21 (21-0) in the third quarter alone. Both teams matched touchdown for touchdown in the 4th, leaving the final score 52-21.
Though Middlebury’s passing game was more impactful than Wesleyan’s, the total Panther offensive yards lacked the Cardinals’ running game posted on the field. They fell 293 yards to the Cardinals 358. This differentiation came as a result of Wesleyan’s ground game and panther turnovers.
Panther highlights include an impressive performance from senior linebacker Kevin Maxwell, who led Middlebury in tackles on defense. Senior Conrado Banky and junior Maxin Bochman each assisted quarterbacks Meservy and Will Jernigan ‘21 in the passing game, recording 61 and 52 yards, respectively.
Wesleyan intercepted 3 of Middlebury’s passes and recovered 1 panther fumble, which ended up aiding the Cardinal victory.
Senior wide receiver Jimmy Martinez views the loss as an opportunity to improve their game as a team.
“After Saturday, we realized that we just need to make more plays and take advantage of opportunities. In order to win this week, and win out like we plan to, more people need to step up,” Martinez said, “I’m positive that with more mental focus and a positive attitude going forward that we will begin to dominate.”
Though this past Saturday was a tough loss, Martinez and the team are excited for what lies ahead. With a whole season ahead of them, the panthers have time and room to make improvements.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t put it together this week, but I promise--we’ll make Bowdoin sorry they got off the bus,” Martinez said.
The Panthers will face Bowdoin on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for their home opener.
(09/13/18 10:00am)
The Panther football team is vying to capture the top NESCAC spot during the 2018 season. After an impressive 7-2 run last fall, the team is relying on key returning players to place first.
In keeping with last season, the Panthers will begin their 2018 season against Wesleyan College. This year, however, the Panthers will lose their home field advantage and travel to Connecticut to play Saturday, September 15.
Last year, Middlebury closed its season with a second place conference finish. After graduated senior quarterback Jared Lebowitz ’18 suffered a mid-season injury, the 2017 team pushed through with Jack Meservy ’19. This fall, Meservy will lead the team as 1st-string QB.
Some highlights from the 2017 season include a hard-earned win at home against a strong Wesleyan team to start off the season. The three-point win gave the Panthers momentum, setting them up for a winning record from the beginning. At the end of the season, Middlebury closed with a victory over Tufts. The Jumbos were a force to be reckoned with, making the last win of the season a meaningful one.
Last year, the team totaled 419.1 yards, 113.1 of those yards from the ground, while the passing game recorded 306 of the total yardage. Meservy will take to the field to ensure the team continues its strong and vital passing game, alongside senior receivers Jimmy Martinez and Conrado Banky. On defense, senior linebacker Kevin Maxwell will work with his teammates to keep the opposing teams behind their line of scrimmage while the defensive line applies pressure.
The Panthers are looking beyond this weekend to make their presence in the NESCAC known. The team’s first home game will be September 22, where the team will take on the Bowdoin Polar Bears and begin their journey to the coveted NESCAC title.
(05/03/18 11:47pm)
The Middlebury softball team improved their record to 18–10 last weekend as they took two games from Wesleyan.
Going into Nescac playoffs, the meeting between these two teams tested the waters for intra-conference play. The matchup was a preview for the tournament ahead.
“We’ve been performing extremely well against other Nescac teams, which gives us great confidence going into the rest of this season,” said captain Kati Daczkowski ’18. “Our game is really coming together. The wins we picked up this weekend are a testament to what we can do.”
The Panthers’ decisive victory over the Cardinals in the first (4–1) and second (8–3) game shows that the team is consistently improving as a unit.
Taylor Gardner ’18 continued to be an offensive threat for Middlebury in the first game. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Gardner started off the scoring for the Panthers with a single to left field. Her hit drove Allison Quigley ’18 home for the first run of the game.
Middlebury held its lead until the fourth inning, when Wesleyan tied the game at one run apiece.
This pressure motivated the Panthers to pull ahead, which the team did in the sixth inning. Gardner continued her impressive offensive game, while Daczkowski, Emily Morris ‘21, and Ali Della Volpe ’18 all got on base and eventually were sent home. Walking off the field triumphantly, 4–1, the team was excited to continue their success in the next game.
“Winning the first game was great for us and our mentality,” said Daczkowski. “We went into the second game with a great attitude, ready to compete.”
The Panther offense was complemented by a strong game on the mound by Quigley, who pitched the first five innings and was followed by Morris to end the game.
Unlike the first game, Middlebury started off trailing the Cardinals 1–0 by the beginning of the third inning. Emily Moore ’21 put the Panthers on the board in the third, blasting a home run to tie the game 1–1. After Moore’s homer, Middlebury picked up steam and seized on their momentum.
By the fourth inning, the Panthers had a seven-run lead, 8–1. Though Wesleyan was able to pick up two more runs at the end of the game, the Panthers clinched the win, 8–3.
“We had a great weekend of play,” Daczkowski added. “There’s still more to accomplish, though.”
(05/03/18 5:20pm)
The Middlebury softball team improved their record to 18–10 last weekend as they took two games from Wesleyan.
Going into Nescac playoffs, the meeting between these two teams tested the waters for intra-conference play. The matchup was a preview for the tournament ahead.
“We’ve been performing extremely well against other Nescac teams, which gives us great confidence going into the rest of this season,” said captain Kati Daczkowski ’18. “Our game is really coming together. The wins we picked up this weekend are a testament to what we can do.”
The Panthers’ decisive victory over the Cardinals in the first (4–1) and second (8–3) game shows that the team is consistently improving as a unit.
Taylor Gardner ’18 continued to be an offensive threat for Middlebury in the first game. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Gardner started off the scoring for the Panthers with a single to left field. Her hit drove Allison Quigley ’18 home for the first run of the game.
Middlebury held its lead until the fourth inning, when Wesleyan tied the game at one run apiece.
This pressure motivated the Panthers to pull ahead, which the team did in the sixth inning. Gardner continued her impressive offensive game, while Daczkowski, Emily Morris ‘21, and Ali Della Volpe ’18 all got on base and eventually were sent home. Walking off the field triumphantly, 4–1, the team was excited to continue their success in the next game.
“Winning the first game was great for us and our mentality,” said Daczkowski. “We went into the second game with a great attitude, ready to compete.”
The Panther offense was complemented by a strong game on the mound by Quigley, who pitched the first five innings and was followed by Morris to end the game.
Unlike the first game, Middlebury started off trailing the Cardinals 1–0 by the beginning of the third inning. Emily Moore ’21 put the Panthers on the board in the third, blasting a home run to tie the game 1–1. After Moore’s homer, Middlebury picked up steam and seized on their momentum.
By the fourth inning, the Panthers had a seven-run lead, 8–1. Though Wesleyan was able to pick up two more runs at the end of the game, the Panthers clinched the win, 8–3.
“We had a great weekend of play,” Daczkowski added. “There’s still more to accomplish, though.”
(04/25/18 9:04pm)
The softball team was swept by Williams in Williamstown last weekend, despite two close games that made for exciting and intense affairs.
The Ephs took the first game of the series last Friday, 7–6, despite holding a five-run lead after the Panthers’ half of the fourth.
“We had a rhythm going after the first few innings,” said senior captain Kati Daczkowski ’18. “We felt good, and our team was working really well as a unit.”
Taylor Gardner ’18 got off to a hot start, as she homered to left in her first at-bat in the second inning to give Middlebury a 3–0 lead. It was Garner’s first homer of the season and could not have come at a better time for the Panthers.
Ali Della Volpe ’18 and Olivia Bravo ’20 both singled in the top half of the fourth, putting the Panthers up 5–0. However, the Ephs closed the gap in the bottom half of the inning, as Irene Margiotta ’19 gave up a grand slam to make it 5–4.
By the end of the sixth, after a lead change and a few good pieces of hitting, things were tied at six. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the Ephs put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, and Williams set themselves up for a walk-off hit to take game one 7–6.
In the second game, the Ephs took the win over Middlebury in five innings thanks to the mercy rule, 9–0. The Panthers walked into the third game hoping to get out of town with at least one victory against the No. 19 team in the country.
Again, the Panthers took the lead, 2–0, in the first innings of the game. Senior captain Allison Quigley ’18 started off the scoring with a solo home run. Melanie Mandell ‘20 followed Quigley’s lead with a solo shot of her own. However, Williams would win 3–2, as Rebecca Duncan drove in the game-winning run for the second time in three days. Duncan also homered in the bottom of the sixth in the series’ final game.
“It’s always hard to lose to conference opponents,” Daczkowski said. “We just have to continue to improve and win.”
Following the losses to Williams, the Panthers came out on top in a close battle in a rescheduled game (from Saturday, April 14) against Hamilton, 2–1, in extra innings. This win completed their three-game season sweep of Hamilton, which puts the Panthers in a good position for a spot in the conference playoffs.
Last Sunday it was the Panthers’ turn to win in walk-off fashion, as Liza Tarr ’19 stepped up to bat with the game tied and Quigley on base. Tarr connected for a base hit to send Quigley home, winning the game for the Panthers.
After midweek action against Rensselaer and St. Joseph, the Panthers will host Wesleyan starting tomorrow afternoon for a three-game set to end the regular season.
(04/18/18 9:00am)
The Middlebury softball team swept a doubleheader last Friday, April 13, against Hamilton in a Nescac battle, as both games got called after the fifth inning by the mercy rule.
With the wins over Hamilton, the Panthers are back in the hunt for a conference tournament spot.
“Winning these two games against Hamilton was really important for our Nescac play,” senior Kati Daczkowski ’18 said. “Any time we get to compete against another Nescac team, it’s always intense.”
During the first game of the series, Middlebury blanked Hamilton 8–0.
In the first inning, Middlebury got three runners across the plate to take an early 3–0 lead, as a handful of players had a hand in the action.
Two Panthers were on base when senior captain Allison Quigley ’18’s double sent them home; after the initial two runs scored, a sacrifice fly by Kaylee Gumm ’21 finished off first-inning scoring.
“Our offense really proved strong against Hamilton. We were able to load the bases and get the hits to send them home. It was a total-team effort,” Daczkowski added.
The total-team effort continued into the second inning.
An Olivia Bravo ’20 triple and a sacrifice fly by Daczkowski put another two runs on the board for Middlebury. By the end of the second, the Panthers were up five against their competitor.
By the time the game reached the bottom of the fifth, the Panthers still led 5–0 and had Hamilton on the hook for a slaughter-rule finish.
Emily Morris ’21 took advantage of a wild pitch by stealing home to put Middlebury up 6–0. Another two Middlebury scores ended the game for Hamilton, as the Panthers won by an eight-run scoring rule.
Going into the second game of the double header, the Panthers used their confidence both in the field and in the batter’s box to come out with a second eight-run mercy rule finish, this time winning 10–2.
Unlike the first game of the doubleheader, Hamilton started off the scoring in the second game.
But Hamilton’s lead did not last for long, as the Panthers retook the lead in the second.
Melanie Mandell ’20 was driven in by a Kaylee Gumm d’19 double to put the Panthers on the board.
A string of Middlebury hits and runs scored made the score 5–1 in the third inning. By the end of the fourth, the Panthers added enough runs to be up by nine, 10–1. Even though Hamilton scored on a Middlebury error in the top of the fifth, the 10–2 finish was enough for the Continentals to plead mercy.
The Panthers have yet to play their third game against Hamilton, as the third game in the series was postponed due to weather. Next, the Panthers will look to beat another Nescac powerhouse, the Williams Ephs, on Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21.
(04/11/18 9:51pm)
Growing up, I always wanted to be able to run long distances. I always wanted to be faster, more “in shape.” I thought my athleticism was defined by my ability to run, rather than how I competed in sports. I was led to believe that the kids able to run the longest distances were the best athletes. With this mindset, I felt behind on conditioning in comparison to my teammates. No matter how hard I practiced, how well I played or how often I ran, I felt defeated.
The constant disappointment led me to try winter track during my freshman year of high school, in order to get in shape for my spring lacrosse season. After a couple months of practice and a few meets, I was frustrated with my lack of progress. I struggled every practice and never felt that I was doing enough — I needed more.
In the midst of an athletic crisis, I made a promise to myself that I would take my anger out in the weight room. As runners dwindled after practice, I’d stay hours later, hitting the weights, working on explosiveness and power. It seemed to come naturally to me.
One night, my track coach approached me and acknowledged my presence in the weight room. He asked me to consider throwing shot put for the team, which would be a great opportunity to exhibit the strength and power I acquired in the weight room. I hesitantly agreed. Little did I know, it would change my life. As I started to throw, I realized my true talent rested in my strength.
I used to think the weight room was a characteristically male-dominated place. I imagined large, muscular boys “pumping iron” for hours on end, listening to hard rap music. I realized that wasn’t the case; I could bench to Taylor Swift or Broadway music without feeling out of place, without feeling judged. The weight room became my safe haven.
Many women are afraid of weightlifting. They don’t want to be bulky. They are scared of being called manly. Though our society is starting to warm up to the idea of the “strong woman,” it has not reached normalcy. Women are still afraid to be viewed in that light.
We’re born into the thought that being healthy is equivalent to being skinny. Healthy is relative. It has no shape or form. Yet, from a young age, our society defines health for us. It tells us that we have to look in the mirror and see a Barbie Doll figure staring back, or else we aren’t in the majority.
Society likes to define “health” and “fitness,” but every body is different. Every individual benefits from being active in different ways. I take pride in listening to my body, rather than forcing myself to be something I’m not. That’s what health is, not whatever society likes to tell us it is.
Throughout my life, I feared being strong. I was afraid to look in the mirror and see muscle; I did not want to be “manly.” I couldn’t help but feel like an outcast for being built differently. Once I started lifting, however, the term “in shape” no longer rang heavily in my ears. I found confidence in the fact that I didn’t need to run miles on end to feel good about myself. My definition of athleticism was not centered around running. I didn’t feel “manly”; I didn’t feel out of place. For the first time in my life, I felt healthy and fit.
Being a strong woman doesn’t scare me anymore; it makes me who I am.
(04/11/18 8:47pm)
Following a hard-fought, 4–3, midweek victory over Plattsburgh, the softball team took to the road to take on No. 17 Amherst (17–2, 5–0) for a three-game set last weekend.
The Panthers fell to the Mammoths on Saturday, April 7, by a final score of 9–4, and dropped both games of their doubleheader on Sunday, April 8, by scores of 3–0 and 7–2. After getting swept on the road, the Panthers stand at .500, 7–7, as they enter the heart of their schedule.
Though the Panthers had solid offensive and defensive efforts, the Mammoths’ pitching, led by 12.2 innings of Lorena Ukanwa and her 10–0 record, kept the Panthers from doing any meaningful damage.
Senior captain Kati Daczkowski ’18 hopes to look forward from the losses and work on facing the next competition, especially in Nescac play.
“We have to keep moving forward and improving our play,” Daczkowski said, “We’re looking forward to this week and new competition.”
The highlight of the week, and potentially the season so far, was the Panthers’ effort against Plattsburgh. On the road at Cardinal Park, on a cold Wednesday, April 4, afternoon, the Panthers used a total-team effort to come from behind and beat Plattsburgh.
The Middlebury captains’ preseason hope to use their small size to their advantage was validated, as every player had a hand in the victory against the Cardinals.
Emily Morris ’21 pitched a great game for the Panthers. On the mound, she recorded seven timely strikeouts to highlight a strong performance. Plattsburgh was only able to get four hits off of her.
The offensive side of the Panthers put in an all-team effort and a strong start. Early in the first inning, after an Allison Quigley ’18 single moved Olivia Bravo ’20 and Melanie Mandell ’20 to second and third, respectively, Taylor Gardner ’18 came up with the bases loaded. Gardner grounded into a would-be fielder’s choice, but an error by the Cardinals’ pitcher allowed her to reach safely as Bravo crossed the plate. With the bases still loaded, Lisa Tarr ’19 stepped up to the plate and struck out. However, a passed ball allowed Tarr to reach safely, and Mandell crossed the plate for the second run on an error in as many batters for the Panthers.
Heading into the fifth, the Panthers trailed the Cardinals 3–2 when, luckily for Middlebury, Bravo continued her stellar day, sending a two-out triple to center. Mandell then came up and hit what seemed to be an inning-ending grounder to the pitcher. However, for the second time in the game an error by the Cardinals’ pitcher extended the inning. A throwing error to first allowed Bravo to score and Mandell to reach base safety.
If things were not already wacky and exciting enough, the Panthers took back the lead in the sixth on a Plattsburgh wild pitch, which allowed Gardner to score what would be the game’s decisive run as the Panthers came out victorious, 4–3.
After some weather-pending midweek action — a doubleheader against Castleton — the Panthers are set to host Hamilton tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. for the first game of an important three-game set, with a doubleheader scheduled to start at noon on Saturday.
(04/04/18 9:00am)
The Panther softball team entered their season as a small, close-knit team looking to win. Throughout their training trip over spring break, the squad hit the field and successfully put a few wins under their belts. After a promising 6–4 spring break trip, the Panthers are excited for the season ahead.
Middlebury started off strong, winning their first two games against Allegheny and Thomas College in Clermont, Florida, to open the season. Both games were characterized by valiant effort from the Panthers. The opener against Allegheny was a back-and-forth affair until the seventh inning, when Liza Tarr ’19’s double sent senior captain Allison Quigley ’18 home, sealing the team’s first win of the season in walk-off fashion, 4–3.
In their second game, the Panthers showed their resilience, which will be key for future success throughout the season, especially given their small roster. Down 5–0 entering the bottom of the seventh, Middlebury came back, guns blazing, to win.
The Panthers cut into the deficit in the bottom of the seventh, where a four-run inning got them squarely back into the game. Their efforts were spearheaded by a pair of first-years, Emily Moore ’21 and Kaylee Gumm ’21. Moore had a 2-RBI triple down the left-field line that brought in Tarr and Taylor Gardner ’18, and then Gumm brought Moore home with a two-run blast to center, making the score 5–4. In the fifth inning the Panthers added four more runs behind a pair of doubles from Tarr and Kati Daczkowski ’18.
Senior captain Gardner put the squad on her back at times during the first two games. Her sacrifice bunt against Allegheny enabled the Panthers to eke out a win, while she went 2-for-3 with a double against Thomas. The captain believes the team’s early success will be important for the season ahead.
“We had great team chemistry and determination to win. We competed against really good teams, which will be awesome going into our Nescac weekends,” Gardner said.
A series of wins and losses came after the first two games. Some highlights included a huge win over Juniata College, where the Panthers came out on top, 6–3. The game emphasized the Panthers’ strength at the plate. Gardner, Tarr, Daczkowski and Emily Moore ’21 each had a hand in the Panthers’ offensive success.
In addition to the Panthers’ offense, Quigley and first-year Emily Morris ’21 had key pitching efforts for the squad. Though the Panthers saw success offensively in the earlier games, the team is hoping to work on execution to assist their dominant defense, led by Quigley’s and Morris’s presence on the rubber.
“Our pitchers and catchers worked really well together,” captain Ali Della Volpe ’18 said. “We need to execute our offense earlier on in games, and especially when we have runners on base.”
Though the Panthers fell to four teams throughout the break, they held strong performances on the field and in the batting cage. Their six wins against Allegheny, Thomas, Juniata, Mount Mary, Buffalo State, and D’Youville showed the strength of the Panther squad. After this trip, the team knows what it needs to do to win.
“We remained really cohesive throughout [the games] and were resilient against tougher teams,” Daczkowski said. “We have a lot of people in new positions, so we just need to work out the kinks by Nescac play.”
The next thing the team is looking forward to, Daczkowski said, is “winning.”
The captains are excited for what lies ahead. The team’s games in Florida were a testament to the next step in the season, and the squad is looking past their losses and working to ensure a successful season.
“Our team was disappointed that we did not walk away with a few more wins, but we learned that we can definitely compete with any team,” Della Volpe said. “We saw what our group can do this year, and we feel confident going into Nescac play.”
After a midweek doubleheader yesterday, Wednesday, April 3, at Plattsburgh, the Panthers will be back in action starting tomorrow in Amherst, Massachusetts, where they will start a three-game series with the 12th-ranked Mammoths.
(04/04/18 9:00am)
Members of the swimming and diving team completed their season from March 21–24 in Indianapolis at the NCAA Championships. The weekend consisted of new records and All-American honors for several members of the swimming and diving program.
Frances VanderMeer ’20 opened the meet with a record-breaking performance in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.41. This time lowered her previous school record of 23.51. In the finals, VanderMeer placed 14th with a time of 23.62, which earned her an All-America honorable mention.
VanderMeer competed in the 100-yard butterfly on the second day of the meet and in the 100-yard freestyle at the meet’s conclusion. Her time of 57.03 in the 100-yard butterfly placed her 33rd in the event, while in the 100-yard freestyle, she clocked in at 51.39. Placing 18th in the freestyle, VanderMeer was only 0.02 seconds off from getting a chance to compete in the final heat.
VanderMeer represented Middlebury in a whopping six events. Along with her three individual events, she had a leg in the 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard medley relay, and the 400-yard freestyle relay. The 200-yard relay, consisting of VanderMeer, Maya Gomez ’20, Stephanie Andrews ’18, and Erin Kelly ’21, clocked a 1:36.19 time that booked them a 20th-place finish.
In the 400-yard medley relay, VanderMeer, Gomez, Andrews, and Sarah Bartholomae ’18 finished 21st with a time of 3:52.67.
On the last day of competition, VanderMeer, Andrews, Gomez, and Kelly competed in the preliminary rounds of the 400-yard relay. The relay marked a time of 3:31.67 and placed 26th in the event.
Gomez also competed in six events for the Panthers. Her best performance came in the 100-yard breaststroke, on the third day of competition, where the sophomore placed 11th with a time of 1:03.35. On the final day of the championships, Gomez swam a 2:25.84 in the 20-yard breaststroke to place 38th. In the 100-yard butterfly, she placed 40th with 24.02.
Mike Chirico ’20 participated at NCAAs for the first time, competing on the boards for the Panthers. Chirico was unfazed by the big stage and posted strong performances in the one- and three-meter diving competitions.
In the 3m competition, Chirico placed 15th with 420.65 points, which was good enough to earn the sophomore an All-America honorable mention. On the 1m boards, Chirico’s performance earned him 433.20 points and a 13th-place finish.
The women’s side finished the meet with 8.5 team points, which put them in 37th in the 51-team field, ending the season on a high note.
(03/21/18 10:16pm)
Last season the softball team finished 17–14–1 overall and 4–8 in the Nescac, placing the Panthers third in the Nescac West standings and six games out of the conference playoffs. Middlebury loses five seniors from that 2017 team to graduation, but the returners and newcomers are confident that this year’s edition of Middlebury softball can overcome its small roster size of 13 players to play to the best of its ability, hopefully returning to the Nescac playoffs in the process. After five straight trips to the Nescac playoffs, from 2011 to 2015 — including its only Nescac championship and NCAA tournament berth in 2011— the softball team has not made it to the postseason each of the last two years.
Leading the way this season will be senior captains Kati Daczkowski ’18, Ali Della Volpe ’18, Taylor Gardner ’18 and Allison Quigley ’18.
Last season, Quigley pitched in 18 games, starting 15 of those, and posted a 2.27 earned run average and 63 strikeouts in 98.2 innings. She finished sixth in the Nescac in ERA and seventh in strikeouts.
Daczkowski, Della Volpe and Gardner all played in 30 of Middlebury’s 32 games last season, primarily in the field — although Gardner chipped in 19.1 innings on the mound.
Daczkowski played in the outfield last season. In 85 plate appearances, she posted a .482 on-base percentage, finishing fourth in the Nescac in that category, while also recording a .368 batting average.
Della Volpe played both in the outfield and in the infield at second base last season. She hit .280 and stole a team-high six bases.
Gardner played mostly at second and third base, with a dash of pitching mixed in. Gardner finished tied for third on the team with 10 doubles, the second-most of any returning Panther, providing some pop for a Middlebury team that struggled to score runs in Nescac play.
Melanie Mandell ’20 will provide Middlebury’s biggest bat, after hitting .439 to go with three home runs, 12 doubles, and three triples last season. Mandell made the All-Nescac first team last season as a first-year. She had the second-best batting average among qualifying hitters in the conference, and the third-best slugging percentage (.714).
Mandell’s fellow sophomores Marybeth Stone ’20 and Olivia Bravo ’20 also plan to build on their strong first seasons in the blue in white, when they hit .405 and .380, respectively.
Although there are only 13 players on this season’s team, the captains emphasize small numbers play to their advantage, as they have grown closer as a team this school year.
“We have the best team chemistry we’ve had in years,” said Daczkowski. “We are a small team, so everyone has to go above and beyond to make up for the lack of bodies. No one can afford to slack.”
Quigley is convinced Middlebury’s small group is extremely versatile, motivated, and driven to get the best out of itself.
“We’re lucky to have a group of players who are willing and able to play more than one position. We have a group who isn’t afraid to push one another and strive to get the best out of themselves and their teammates,” said Quigley.
Middlebury’s 4–8 Nescac record in 2017 seems bad on the surface, but the Panthers lost a lot of close games, as four of their eight losses were by two runs or fewer and only two were by more than four runs. The Panthers ended their season by losing their last three games to eventual Nescac champion Williams 1–0, 5–1 and 3–1, showing they could hang with the conference’s best in three consecutive games.
The Panthers struggled to score runs in the Nescac last season, as they scored only 42 in 12 games, tied with Wesleyan for the fewest in the West division.
But Della Volpe agrees with Quigley that Middlebury has a balanced roster entering this season, with strengths on the mound and at the plate.
“We have a great pitching staff and have a strong hitting lineup,” said Della Volpe. “We have a lot of players who can hit for power, while also having some players who can put pressure on the defense with their speed and skill.”
After dedicating themselves to their craft in the offseason, Della Volpe is confident Middlebury will be able to hit the ground running this spring, even as the Panthers figure out how to fill the missing pieces left by last year’s graduating class.
“We have some underclassmen who are ready to step up and fill [the graduated seniors’] shoes this year,” Della Volpe said, “We have been working hard as a team to be strong and fit this year, to both prevent injuries and be in the best shape possible. We have also focused a lot on our communication and teamwork on defense, and worked on our mindset when we are at the plate.”
Because of numbers, Middlebury team will look to its underclassmen, including first-years Claire Tipler ’21, Emily Morris ’21, Kaylee Gumm ’21, and Emily Moore ’21, to step into the shoes of players lost to graduation.
The whole squad has high hopes, starting with their spring training trip to Florida.
“Our goals are to start the season off strong in Florida, and then come in and win our NESCAC games,” Della Volpe said.
“Our goal is to just win and have fun,” added Quigley. “The other seniors [and I] want to go out on a high note.”
The Panthers will first hit the field on Friday, March 23 in Clermont, Florida, for their season opener against Allegheny. They will play 10 games in Florida over spring break before returning to Vermont to play a doubleheader at Norwich on Friday, March 30. They begin Nescac play on April 6 and 7, when the Panthers travel to Amherst for a three-game series.
(03/08/18 12:18am)
Two Middlebury divers, Mike Chirico ’20 and Elissa DeNunzio ’18, took part in last weekend’s NCAA Regional Diving Meet, held in the Natatorium. Both Chirico and DeNunzio posted impressive performances in what will be Chirico’s last home meet at the Natatorium this season and DeNunzio’s last opportunity to dive there for Middlebury.
Coming off a strong Nescacs performance, Chirico looked to continue his roll in both the one- and three-meter competitions. At the conference tournament last month, Chirico managed to finish second in the one-meter event and third in the three-meter event.
On the first day of the regional meet, Chirico held true to his recent success, opening up with an eighth-place finish in the one-meter competition. Out of 23 divers, Chirico’s 453.15 points placed him in the upper half of the pack.
Along with Friday’s results in the one-meter competition, Chirico’s fifth-place finish in the three-meter portion of the tournament qualifies him for the NCAA Championships in Indiana later this month. In the three-meter event, Chirico scored 456.45 points, which put him fifth in a 20-diver field.
DeNunzio completed her season, and her college diving career, at the regional meet. She did so in impressive fashion and was excited to have the opportunity at the Nat, at home and in front of her friends.
“I really enjoyed having regionals at Midd this year,” DeNunzio said. “I was comfortable with the boards, and it was great to have my friends come cheer me on. I had a great meet at Nescacs, so I was just hoping to build off of that performance and finish off my diving career on a good note.”
Like Chirico, DeNunzio looked to build on good performances at the conference meet. At Nescacs, she finished fifth in the one-meter competition and sixth in the three-meter.
In her last career action, DeNunzio put forth two solid efforts. On Friday, her three-meter effort earned 365.10 points, which got her a 19th-place finish. In Saturday’s one-meter competition, the last event of her career, DeNunzio racked up 370.50 points from the judges, good for a 17th-place finish. With her fifth- (one-meter) and sixth-place (three-meter) finishes at Nescacs, DeNunzio was able to continue her strong performances at regionals.
DeNunzio spoke highly of the final experience of her career, the opportunity to complete her Middlebury diving career alongside great competitors from across the region, and the chance to watch fellow Nescac competitors compete one last time:
“It was exciting to be surrounded by such amazing divers and watch them perform. I loved being able to cheer on the other Nescac divers.”
From Wednesday, March 21 to Saturday, March 24, Chirico will join seven teammates at the national meet in Indiana, where he will compete against the country’s best Division III divers to conclude his season.
(02/28/18 11:55pm)
The men’s swimming and diving teams took seventh place in the Nescac championships last weekend, Feb. 23-25, at Bowdoin. Swimming powerhouses took the top three spots, with Tufts in first place, Williams in second and Amherst in third.
Williams has perennially dominated Nescacs, winning the past 16 conference championships, but Tufts ended Williams’ reign last weekend in Brunswick, Maine.
Mike Chirico ’20 had a second-place and third-place finish on the boards in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for the Panthers. Chirico set the tone for the Panthers last Friday, the first day of the meet, as his 468.10 point performance in the 1-meter competition got him a “B” cut qualification for NCAAs and garnered him all-Nescac honors.
Chirico’s teammate Will Greene ’19 placed in the top five of the 1-meter even, doing so with 387.30 points.
Sunday brought Chirico even more success, as he took third in the 3-meter diving event as he racked up 447.90 points. Chirico added another notch on his accolate belt as his performance earned him all-Nescac honors for 3-meter diving as well.
Other top 10 performances came from both relays and individual performances in the pool.
On Friday, the opening event consisting of Will Pannos ’20, Keegan Pando ’21, Brendan Leech ’19 and Alex Smith ’18, finished the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:25.61, good for 10th place. Later in the day, the relay comprised of Charles Quinn ’20, Leech, Pannos and Connor McCormick ’18 had a solid 7th-place finish in the 400-medley relay in a time of 3:36.51.
Two more relays placed in the top 10 at Saturday’s meet. Pannos, Leech, Stefan Pla ’18 and Kevin Santoro ’21 placed seventh in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:34.12.
Four more Panthers saw a 10th-place finish in the 800-freestyle relay: McCormick, Morgan Matsuda ’19, Zach Einhorn ’21 and Alec Wilson ’21.
Wilson also finished 10th in in the 1000 free, touching the wall with a time of 9:43.06. On Sunday, Wilson followed on his successful performance in the 1,000 when he took part in the 1,650 free and registered a time of 16:18.43, good for an eighth-place finish.
Santoro placed seventh in the 100 backstroke with a time 51.52 on Saturday, which he followed with a fifth-place performance in the 200 backstroke on Sunday where he touched the wall at the 1:50.42 mark.
To end the weekend, Pannos, Leech, Cory Jalbert ’21 and Alex Smith competed for the Panthers in the 400 free relay. Their time of 3:07.17 got them a ninth-place finish.
“It was a great feeling to podium in some of the relays this weekend,” Leech said. “We knew we worked hard over the course of the year and the prep these last few weeks got us ready to turn some heads at the meet. It was really cool to look at the board and see so many people having lifetime bests.
“We’ve been training since the first week of classes in the fall so we’ve had almost six straight months of work leading up to this meet,” Leech said. “Coach kept telling us we had ‘put in the work” so we were confident that we’d swim fast once we got the chance to rest.”
Pannos was very excited to finish in the top-eight with his relay teams and the men’s team as a whole.
“Placing in the top eight was excellent not only for our relays, but for the team overall,” said Pannos. “For the brief moments you’re on the podium, knowing everybody has worked their hardest and scored crucial points for the entire team is undoubtedly a special feeling. Hopping out of the pool, you’re greeted by congratulatory, energetic teammates who you know are genuinely glad about your success. From then on, all you can do is cheer for the remainder of the race. Once it’s all over and everybody sees the final time and place, it’s extremely gratifying to collectively celebrate the product of all our hard work.”
Pannos also reflected on the Panthers’ season as a whole.
“This year, our training prepared us very well for Nescacs, as we showcased a great deal of impressive swims. It wasn’t easy by any stretch.There were countless early mornings, double days, lifts, brutal practices, and a long, strenuous training trip over winter break, all of which tested us as individuals and as a team. Through dedication and fantastic support from one another, however, we persevered and came out united with a common goal.
“Once we were rested and ready for this past weekend,”continued Pannos, “It was obvious that we were about to perform better than we ever had in the past, and it showed in all the impressive times, races, and overall spirit we exuded throughout the entirety of the meet.
“Though at times the training was unrelenting and seemingly endless, it’s all quickly put into perspective once the final meet ends and you realize that all the blood, sweat, and tears you’ve put into the sport this season have come to fruition. It reminds you of why you committed to swimming in the first place.”
(02/22/18 2:24am)
Last week, Feb. 16–18, the women’s swimming and diving team headed to Williamstown, Massachusetts, to take part in the Nescac Championship in which they took seventh place. Williams Ephs took home the gold for the fifth year in a row. Two school records fell for Middlebury thanks to the efforts of Maya Gomez ’20 and Frances VanderMeer ’20.
Gomez started off the meet on a high note for the Panthers with her 50-breaststroke time of 29.14. The top finisher in this event at Nescacs in 2017, Gomez took home the top spot for the second consecutive year. This not only provided momentum for the Panthers, but also for Gomez, who broke the school’s 100-breast record the next day.
These record-breaking performances began with VanderMeer though, whose 23.51 time in the 50 free unseated the nine-year-old record, set in 2009, that belonged to Emily McDonald ’11. However, it is not as if no one saw this kind of effort coming from VanderMeer.
Throughout the year VanderMeer has acquired many first-place finishes and impressive performances. It almost seems as though the record was bound to fall to the swimmer. This time would hand VanderMeer second in the Nescac and NCAA B-cut mark along with the school record.
VanderMeer also completed a second NCAA B-cut performance on Sunday in the 100 free with a time of 51.70, where she placed second for the Panthers.
Gomez’s record-breaking performance in the 100 breaststroke on Saturday was also B-cut-worthy for NCAAs. With a time of 1:02.92, Gomez conquered the record of 1:03.07 set in 2013 by Jamie Hillas ’15. Her second-place finish in the championship race (1:03.89) earned Gomez All-Nescac honors.
Other NCAA B-cut performances came courtesy of the 200 free relay team, who put up a strong showing on Friday night. Comprised of VanderMeer, Gomez, Erin Kelly ’21, and Stephanie Andrews ’18, their B-cut time of 1:34.75 placed the relay in 5th place.
On the boards, Elissa DeNunzio ’18 also finished in 5th place with 426.30 points, good for another B-cut score in the 1-meter competition. On Sunday, DeNunzio competed in the 3-meter competition, where she placed 6th. After the meet, the Panther diver was awarded the Nescac’s Senior High-Point Diver, which no previous Panther diver has ever received.
The seventh-place finish by the Panthers, mixed with the record-breaking performances, proved a solid Nescac meet for Middlebury. Next weekend, Feb. 23–25, the men’s team will travel to Bowdoin’s pool in Brunswick, Maine, to compete in their half of Nescacs.
(02/15/18 1:56am)
The Middlebury Panther Swimming & Diving Squads suffered one loss and gained a win in their tri-meet with the Hamilton Continentals and Williams Ephs on Saturday, Jan. 27, at Williams. Both teams lost to Williams, the men 189-94, and the women, 177-114. Against the Continentals, both the men’s and women’s teams claimed a victory, 206-78 and 209.5-84.5, respectively.
Mike Chirico ’20 continued his successful season with a first-place finish on the boards in the 1-meter and 3-meter events, with 287.25 and 284.32 points. Chirico was the only male Panther to win two events for the squad.
The other individual victory on the men’s side came from Will Pannos ’20 in the 100 butterfly (54.15).
The men accounted for many second-place finishes, as Nick Handali ’20 of the panthers touched the wall behind Pannos in the 100 butterfly in a time of 54.21. Morgan Matsuda ’19 and Connor McCormick ’18 were also second on the podium for their events. Matsuda was second in the 500 free with a time of 4:58.34, while McCormick touched the wall second in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.30).
Two Panthers also won on the women’s side on Saturday. Frances VanderMeer ’20 claimed an individual victory in the 50 butterfly (26.43). VanderMeer, along with Sarah McEachern ‘21, who won the 100 individual medley in 1:05.99, controlled the day for the Panther team. VanderMeer contributed further with her second-place finish in the 50 backstroke (27.54).
The 200 free relay team for the Panthers, consisting of VanderMeer, Erin Kelly ‘21, Stephanie Andrews ‘18, and Maya Gomez ‘20, touched the wall first in a time of 1:40.37.
Second-place swimming finishes came from VanderMeer in the 50 backstroke, Gomez in the 50 and 100 breaststroke (31.73, 1:09.54), and Kelly Delane ’18 in the 50 fly (28.15). Elissa DeNunzio ‘18 took second-place in both the 1-meter (255.30) and 3-meter (246.97) diving events.
More recently, in an unscored meet with Williams, Tufts, University of Vermont, and Springfield, on February 2nd and 3rd, the Panthers competed to prepare for their upcoming NESCAC championships, which will start off in a few weeks.
Stephanie Andrews and Maya Gomez successfully conquered the competition in their individual events, Andrews placing first in the 50 free in 24.46, Gomez in the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.83. The 800-yard freestyle relay team, made up of Andrews, VanderMeer, Georgia Houde ’20, and Angela Riggins ’19, also placed first with a time of 7:57.06.
Connor McCormick, the lone top-place finisher for the men’s team, beat his competition in the 100 breaststroke to win with a time of 59.43.
This weekend, the women will travel to Williams again to compete at the NESCAC championships on Friday to Sunday, Feb. 16 to 18. The men have the weekend off before making their way to Bowdoin for the Nescac championships from Feb. 23 to 25.
(01/24/18 9:31pm)
Swimming and diving conquered Union in the natatorium last Saturday — the women’s side by a score of 205–74 and the men’s side 198–75. Each side’s meet had 15 events and both won 12 of the 15.
Frances VanderMeer ’20 continued her impressive win streak with another two victories in the pool. She flew past her competition in the 100 butterfly (58.83) and 50 freestyle (24.64). The fierce competitor also chipped in for the 200 free relay, along with Audrey Kelly ’21, Erin Kelly ’21 and Stephanie Andrews ’18, winning the competition with a time of 1:41.09. The relay’s nearest competitor came in 7.48 seconds behind the Panther’s top squad.
Alongside VanderMeer, Elissa DeNunzio ’18 again had success on the boards, contributing two winning efforts with victories in both the 1- (263.93) and 3-meter (274.95) events.
Other first-place finishes included Sarah McEachern ’21 in the 100 backstroke (1:02.15) and 500 freestyle (5:19.89), Erin Kelly in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.16), Kristin Karpowicz ’19 in the 200 free (1:59.93), Stephanie Andrews ’18 in the 100 free (55.50) and Jessica Lipton ’20 in the 200 fly (2:16.11).
The men’s side saw the same success against Union.
Morgan Matsuda ’19 and Stefan Pla ’18 each won two individual events. Matsuda touched the wall in the 400 individual medley in 4:21.26 as well as the 200 freestyle in 1:47.80. Pla claimed first in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.23) and 100 breaststroke (1:00.55). Pla also contributed a leg in the victorious 400 medley relay (3:36.83), consisting of Pla, Brendan Leech ’19, Keegan Pando ’21 and Nick Handali ’20.
Along with the 400 medley relay, the 200 free relay team of Cory Jalbert ’21, Leech ’19, Keegan Pando ’21 and Connor McCormick ’18, closed out the day for the Panthers on a high note, finishing first with a time of 1:29.55.
Other individual victories were attained in the lanes and on the boards. Mike Chirico ’20 won the 3-meter diving event with 358.43 points. Five other Panthers claimed gold in their respective swimming events: Kevin Santoro ’21 in the 200 backstroke (1:59.52), Leech in the 50 free (22.43), Jalbert in the 100 free (49.61), Handali in the 100 butterfly (53.78) and Andrew Buchser ’18 in the 500 free (4:58.78).
“My main goals moving forward are to stay healthy and in good condition,” Buchser said. “I started this season unable to swim with a back injury, but with help from sports medicine I’ve managed the pain. The bulk of our training is done, so now we just have to stay in shape until we start taper.”
The Panthers head to Williamstown on Saturday looking to improve their conference record, but Buchser points out Middlebury’s results so far may be misleading.
“Teams take opportunities throughout the season to rest for meets,” Buchser said. “We train through all of our meets to maximize our potential by the time Nescacs come around. It’s hard to know how I’m really doing until I’m rested in February. I’m ahead of where I’ve been at this time in past seasons, so it should all be good news moving forward.”
(12/07/17 12:10am)
Competing on the road against Amherst this past weekend, the Middlebury men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both suffered their third losses of the young season. The Mammoth women’s team defeated the Panthers 167-122, while on the men’s side, the Mammoth men’s team came out of Pratt Pool victorious, 165-102.
Frances VanderMeer ’20 came out of her third straight meet with another individual first-place finish for the Panthers, good for her fourth individual win on the year. Afterward, although the team score came up a little short, she nevertheless remained optimistic about what lies ahead.
“I think all of our work in preseason really set us up for a good season,” she said. “ Everyone is very dedicated to the team and has been working really hard. Paying attention to the little things makes a big difference as well.
“We also have an incredible team dynamic, which makes it easy get excited and race well. We’re looking to have a strong end of the winter season and come off of our 10-day training trip with an even better endurance base. This will be especially important as we head into j-term, where we have a meet every weekend.”
Kristin Karpowicz ’19 also claimed an individual title for the women’s squad in the 200-yard individual medley (2:16.93).
Stephanie Andrews ’18 pulled out a solid 25.24 second 50-free race, good for a second-place finish. Kathryn Bullen ’18 found her groove in the 200-yard individual medley, coming in second behind Karpowicz in a time of 2:22.21.
VanderMeer also had a hand in the 400-yard freestyle relay victory, which consisted of VandeerMeer, Maya Gomez ’20, Andrews and Erin Kelly ’21. The team touched the wall in a time of 3:42.84.
Elissa DeNunzio ’18 claimed the 3-meter diving title for the third straight meet with 236.03 points. DeNunzio also placed second in the 1-meter with 241.65 points.
For the Panther men’s side, Andrew Buchser ’18, Connor McCormick ’18 and Jack Dowling ’18 registered a first-place finish in their individual races. A relay consisting of Cory Jalbert ’21, Keegan Pando ’21, Will Pannos ’20 and Brendan Leech ’19 claimed the first place-title in the 400-yard freestyle event.
McCormick clocked in at 2:01.67 in the 200-yard individual medley for the Panthers which was good for his second individual first-place finish this season. Buchser completed the 500-yard freestyle in 5:02.37 and found himself atop the podium. Dowling was the third Panther to come out of the pool in an individual event triumphant after he won the 100-yard butterfly in 54.31 seconds.
Jalbert, Pando, Pannos and Leech ended the meet on the high note of tying for first in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:20.53.
Alec Wilson ’21 (500 frees), Charles Quinn ’20 (200 IM), Pannos (100 fly) and Kevin Santoro ’21 (200 back) all finished second for the Panthers in their respective events, as well as the other Panther 400-yard relay team, consisting of Dowling, Zack Einhorn ’21, Henry Mooers ’21 and Nick Handali ’20.
Though the Panthers have faced difficult competition thus far, the team is looking forward to this Saturday, Dec. 9, when they are set to host Springfield for their last chance to notch a victory before the calendar year ends.
But some of the Panthers can’t help looking beyond that — to the postseason meets that take place in February and March. “On the diving team,” said DeNunzio, “we are excited to host the regional championships for the first year. I’m looking forward to our upcoming meets and getting the opportunity to showcase the new dives we have been working hard on so far this season.”
But the number one priority for the Panthers, according to DeNunzio? “We’re hoping to keep improving our scores to better prepare ourselves for the Nescac meet at the end of the year.”
(11/30/17 12:11am)
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams began their 2017–18 season on Saturday, Nov. 18, with a home opener against Connecticut College on Nov. 18 in the newly refurbished Natatorium. Both the men’s and women’s teams were defeated by the Camels, 176–104 and 191–103, respectively. The Panther squads also fell to Tufts at the Nat the next day, Nov. 19, in their second meet of the season as the men’s team fell short 175–100 and the women’s team lost a closely contested meet 155–134.
On the women’s side against Connecticut College, Georgia Houde ’20 and Frances VanderMeer ’20 had first-place finishes for the Panthers. Houde won the 1,000 free and her time of 11:06.14 was a full three seconds faster than her nearest competitor, which happened to be first-year Sarah McEachern ’21.
VanderMeer whipped through the pool in 58.78 seconds to win the 100 butterfly and managed to place second in the 50 free.
The men’s side also claimed two individual victories in the Connecticut College meet. Kevin Santoro ’21 swam the 200 backstroke in 1:59.47 and Connor McCormick ’18 swam the 200 breaststroke in 2:12.94 to put the Panthers atop the podium in those events. Charles Quinn ’20 touched the wall .26 seconds after Santoro for a time of 1:59.73 which was good for a second-place finish in the 200 backstroke.
In addition to winning the 200 breastroke, McCormick also snatched second place in both the 200 individual medley (2:01.75) and 200 free (1:47.42).
For the diving squads, the women got a first-place finish by Elissa DeNunzio ’18, who won both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions. She registered a 244.95 in the 1-meter and a 251.85 in the 3-meter.
Mike Chirico ’20 of the men’s side also claimed a pair of first-place finishes for the Panthers in the 1- and 3-meters dives. He scored 290.55 points in the 1-meter competition and 272.70 in the 3-meter event.
The Panthers fared better against Tufts in their second meet of the season.
On the women’s side, the team managed five first-place finishes, three of which were individual.
VanderMeer continued her success in the pool, winning two events for the women’s team. She won the 50 backstroke (27.50) and 100 freestyle (53.79), while teammate Stephanie Andrews ’18 placed first in the 50 freestyle (25.36).
VanderMeer and Andrews were a part of the triumphant 200- and 400-yard medley relay teams.
In the 200, VandeerMeer and Andrews teamed up with with Maya Gomez ’20 and Kelly Delane ’18 to win with a time of 1:50.04. VandeerMeer, Andrews and Gomez were joined by Erin Kelly ’21 in the 400-yard freestyle relay victory, touching the wall in 3:40.69.
The men’s team was victorious in 3 events in the Tufts meet.
Brandon Leech ’19 won the 100 backstroke event, finishing in a time of 55.05. Quinn captured his first event-victory of the season in the 200 individual medley which he completed in 2:01.69.
The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Leech, Cory Jalbert ’21, McCormick, and Christian Chiang ’20 won the third of the Panthers events in the Tufts meet. The four finished with a time of 3:18.74.
On the boards, DeNunzio and Chirico both continued to clamp-down on the 1- and 3-meter events for the Panthers.
DeNunzio got 234 points in the 1-meter and 233.48 in the 3-meter, while Chirico claimed the 1-meter competition with 292.58 points and the 3-meter by racking up 252.68 points.
The Panthers will be back in the pool this Saturday, Dec. 2, when they travel to Amherst, Massachusetts, for a meet with the Mammoths and the Panthers’ first away matchup of the season.