Sharks and Cadets Capture 2011 GNAC Championship Titles

Emma Dunn

Simmons College Athletic Communications

BOSTON, Mass. -- With two grueling days of competition complete, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference crowned its 2011 Women’s Swimming and Diving and Men’s Invitational Champions this evening at the Holmes Sports Center. Simmons captured the women’s championship with 259 points, while the Norwich University Cadet’s took home top honors in the Men’s Invitational with 289.

The women’s field was firing on all cylinders as 10 GNAC and four pool records were shattered over the two-day meet.

Simmons’ first place finish marks the team’s eighth consecutive win as Conference Champions and tenth win in the last 11 years. Jen Collins () scored 27 individual points, claiming first place in all three of her individual events. Collins broke the Simmons team record in the 100 Free. In the 200 Free, she set a new GNAC record by close to three seconds. In addition to her individual victories, Collins anchored the winning relay for both the 200 and 400 Freestyle Relays, both of which set new Pool and GNAC records.

Sharks freshman Chloe Davis () won the 200 Back by a commanding four and a half seconds. She also finished second in the 100 Back, third in the 50 Free, and sixth in the 50 back. C. Davis swam on both the 200 Free and 400 Free Relays, both of which finished first and set new pool and GNAC records. Simmons senior Molly Bohannon () swam to a win in the 200 Butterfly and a third place finish in the 1000 Freestyle.

Elms College scored 193 points as runners up with standout Devon Degrazia, who posted new individual GNAC records in the 500 Free and 1000 Free and as a member of the winning 400 Medley Relay team. Tessa Dudunake recorded valuable points for the Blazers, with wins in the 50 Breast, 100 Breast, and 100 IM in which she swam a new GNAC and pool record.

Saint Joseph College (Conn.) placed third with 164 points as Suki Hood led the Blue Jays to a win in the 100 Fly and a second place finish in the 200 Fly. Shannon Dunn took home 18 points as she placed first in both the 50 and 100 Backstroke. The Blue Jays placed second in the 200 and 400 Medley Relay, solidifying their third place finish.

Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) finished with 119 points as Monk’s Hannah Gajewski posted a new GNAC record in the 200 IM, finished second in the 1000 Freestyle and 100 IM and third in the 100 Breast finals. Mandy Avella placed third in the 50 Back and 200 Back adding valuable points to the Monk’s score.

The Regis College Pride posted 85 points as Haley Bowen finished first in the 200 Breast, second in the 50 and 100 Breast, and third in the 200 IM. The Pride captured a second place finish in the 200 Free Relay of Yassyra Diaz, Megan Kennelly, Megan Pratt, and Stacy Burns.

Norwich University finished with 41 points with Giovanna Stein, Janice Knoop, Bria Polacek, and Felicia Jones finished fourth in the 200 Free Relay. Jones placed fifth in the 50 Freestyle, and Knoop also placed fifth in the 100 Butterfly.

The Husson University Eagles posted 37 points as diver Martina Bosse dominated on the 1 meter with 314.50 points. The Eagles Erin Benner finished fifth in the 100 IM.

On the Men’s side, the Cadets posted wins in the 200 Free Relay, and the 200 and 400 Medley Relays. Lance Webster set a GNAC record in the 200 Backstroke, placed second in the 100 Back and 1000 Free, while Patrick Bowden won the 50 Breast and 200 Breast, setting two GNAC records.

Regis College posted 237 points as the runner’s up, with strong performances by Zack Earl who set three individual GNAC records, winning the 200 and 500 Free, the 1000 Free, and helping the Pride to a first place finish in the 400 Free Relay and a new GNAC record. AJ Graf placed first in the 100 Free, 100 IM, and 200 IM and Djordje Mandic added a first place finish in the 50 Free and 100 Back, all of which were new GNAC records.

Elms College placed third with 142 points as Keegan Goan led the Blazers with wins in the 50 Fly, 100 Fly, and second in the 100 IM and 50 Back. The Blazers Mark Gehring placed third in the 500 Free and Jeffrey Ludington finished third in the 200 Back. Elms’ 200 and 400 Medley Relays also finished third.

Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) finished with 137 points, placing third in the 200 and 400 Free Relays, while John Holmes finished second in the 50 and 100 Free. Antonio Delvecchio finished second in the 200 Free, and Adam Gaulin placed third in the 100 Breast. Chris Cullity captured third in the 100 Freestyle and fourth in the 500 Free.

Please Click Here for the 2011 GNAC All-Tournament Team