Spring Break
UConn bests women's swimming, diving; URI defeats Drexel in final home meet of season at Tootell
Brandon Gearing
Issue date: 1/28/09 Section: Sports
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Head coach Mick Westkott had nothing but good things to say about the team's performance as it continues to work on improving times for the upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament.
"We saw some really encouraging stuff on Saturday," Westkott said.
Despite the comfortable victory over Drexel, Rhody appeared a bit overmatched by the speed of the UConn swimmers.
In reference to the apparent differences in speed between the two teams, Weskott only said, "It's something the team has to get used to."
Sophomore Kinsey Tarbell continued her consistent success as she added a pair of top two finishes to her season résumé. Tarbell was victorious in the 100-yard freestyle as she clocked a time of 54.24 and also took second in the 200-yard freestyle finishing in a time of 1:56.88.
Fellow sophomore Melissa Flynn also notched a first place finish after capturing the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 1:00.53. Flynn also added a third place finish in the 50-yard freestyle at 25.73.
Other third place finishers were senior Kelsey Foye, sophomores Devin Smith, Jenna Waldron, Katie McKeon, Lillian Falconer and freshman Katie Mangano.
Foye posted a season-best time in the 1,000-yard freestyle, touching the wall at 10:46.51.
Mangano posted two season-bests, one being the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:00.48.
Sophomore Alexandra Lalli rounded out the top finishers, earning a pair of second-place swims in the 50-yard freestyle (25.46) and 100-yard butterfly (1:01.30).
After the remaining meets, the 33-member team will be whittled down to a smaller team as the Rams put together their A-10 tournament team.
Coach Westkott says his staff will select 16 swimmers and take all of the team's four divers.
"The team is up in the air right now as far as who is on it," Westkott said, adding that he does have 12 swimmers in mind as clear-cut selections.
"There are some like Kinsey [Tarbell], Lillian [Falconer], Kelsey [Foye] and Katie Mangano who have swam really well all year and are clearer than others," Westkott said.
The Rams will travel to Boston to take on Boston College, The University of Maine and Dartmouth College this Friday. The two-day competition has been a bright spot for Rhody in years past.
"We had one of the best college meets than I can ever remember having last year at Boston," Weskott said.
Rhode Island is hoping to continue its success in the Bay State during the weekend, as many of the competitors attempt to prove that they belong on the tournament roster.
