Mount St. Mary’s Women Shine in Dual-Meet Against Rider
EMMITSBURG, Md. – On December 16, 2024, Mount St. Mary’s swimming and diving team hosted Rider in their dual-meet home opener. The women’s team delivered an outstanding performance, sweeping the competition with a decisive 189-104 victory, while the men’s team faced a tough challenge, falling 156.5-122.5.
Women’s Dominance
The women’s squad displayed remarkable talent by winning every race they entered, finishing first in all 13 events. Their triumph began with the 200-Meter Medley relay, where the dynamic team of Hanna Aggen, Christina Lazari, Theodora Kanellopoulou, and Madison Murphy clocked a winning time of 2:00.79, finishing a comfortable seven seconds ahead of their Rider counterparts.
In addition to their relay success, Murphy, Aggen, Carmen Del Aguila, and Meghan Speicher captured first place in the 400-Meter Freestyle relay with a time of 4:06.07. In the individual events, Speicher and Murphy showcased their speed in the 200-Meter Freestyle, securing the first and second positions with times of 2:13.19 and 2:14.21, respectively. Del Aguila further impressed with her outstanding performance in the women’s 800-Meter Freestyle, finishing with a remarkable time of 9:21.82.
Diving Highlights
Prior to the dual-meet, Rider had performed in the diving events on December 15 at the Richard A. Coppola Pool in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Stavros Xantheas triumphed in both the men’s 1-Meter and 3-Meter dives, amassing 18 points. The women’s diving events were equally competitive, with Maiti O’Connor and Karyn Creelman each taking first place in the women’s 1-Meter and 3-Meter competitions, respectively, both scoring nine points.
Men’s Team Performance
On the men’s side, the relay team of Jason Fitch, Aidan Grady, Parker Koenig, and Austin Toland shone brightly as they finished first in the 200-Meter Medley relay with a time of 1:42.94. Fitch continued his impressive outing, winning both the 100-Meter and 200-Meter Backstroke events with times of 57.69 and 2:07.50, while Grady followed suit by winning the 100-Meter and 200-Meter Breaststroke with times of 1:04.08 and 2:23.88, respectively.
Looking Ahead
The Mount will return to the pool in the new year, taking on Lafayette on January 20 at 1:00 p.m. This dual meet will serve as their final home competition of the season, coinciding with Senior Day celebrations in Emmitsburg.
