Westfield State’s Monique Groux dove to a first place finish in the 1-meter diving to help lead the Owls to a second place finish at the LEC Championships Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Westfield State University Sports)
WESTFIELD – Westfield State University’s swimming and diving team swam their best ever team finish to place second at the 2018 Little East Conference Championships at UMass Dartmouth on Saturday.
Junior Monique Groux (Agawam, Mass.) dove to a first place finish in the 1-meter diving with a score of 227.40 and placed second in the 3-meter diving with a score of 218.70.
Sophomore Kelsey Johnstone (Southwick, Mass. / Westfield) swam to a second place finish the 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.58), a third place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:32.36), and placed third in the 200-yard IM (2:19.98).
Senior teammate Tia Pariseau (Holden, Mass. / St. Peter Marian) placed second in the 100-yard freestyle (56.87) and third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.33). Freshman Kait Kelly (Hampden / Minnechaug Regional High School) placed third in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.14) and fourth in the 200-yard backstroke (2:16.29).
Other strong finishers for the Owls includes sophomore Jenna Albrecht (Methuen / Methuen High School) who placed fourth in the 1650-yard freestyle and junior Shannon Fitzsimmons (Andover, Mass.) who finished third in the 500-yard freestyle, fourth in the 100-yard butterfly and fifth in the 200-yard freestyle.
“The kids swam really well,” said head coach Dave Laing “they are exhausted now but that is the best we have ever done at the conference meet. Now it’s about two weeks rest as we get ready for New England’s. But we swam really, really well.”
The Owls totaled 270 points, following Keene State who totaled 534.5 points.
Westfield State is 7-1 on the season and will compete in the New England Championships on February 16th. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
