COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Hopping right back into the pool just after returning from its annual winter sojourn to Florida, the Ursinus College women's swimming team opened the 2019 portion of its dual-meet campaign with a 154-108 defeat of Susquehanna at Elliott Pool.
Freshman Katie Schultz was sensational as the Bears (6-0) won their 65th consecutive dual against a Division III opponent. The first-year star was a triple winner on the night, collecting top prize in the 200 fly, 200 breast, and 200 IM.
Fellow rookie Sophie Lear racked up two individual victories and swam on two first-place relays, while senior Peyton Lyons and sophomore Sophie May were each on a pair of winning relays.
The Bears began the evening with a bang as Lyons, junior Haley Sturla, senior Clara Baker, and freshman Stephanie Chell took down first place in the 200 medley relay with a 1:50.87, just over a second clear of May, Lear, freshman Liv Rachael, and sophomore Katherine Kurzinsky (1:51.73).
Lear recorded a personal best with a 1:57.89 in the 200 free, and later won the 100 free (54.24) to complete her double.
May was first to touch in the 100 back (1:01.71), just ahead of Kurzinsky (1:02.26), and Sturla followed with a winning swim in the 100 breast (1:09.48).
Schultz' second win of the night came in dominating fashion, a 2:15.05 in the 200 fly that marked a personal best and placed her more than 7.50 seconds ahead of the runner-up from the Riverhawks. The first-year phenom also led a 1-2 finish in the 200 IM with a 2:17.42, with sophomore Katelyn Moore taking second.
Before Schultz polished off her trifecta, Lyons won the 200 back in a mark of 2:13.12. She then joined May, Baker, and Lear to claim the 200 free relay in 1:39.44.
Baker placed second in the 50 free (25.14), while senior Caroline Powell was runner-up in the 100 fly (1:02.66) and senior Kathryn Longenecker finished second in the 1000 free (11:22.62).
The Bears were scheduled to travel to NYU on Saturday, but that trip has been cancelled due to the impending storm and the state of emergency issued in Pennsylvania. The team's next meet is at home against Franklin & Marshall on January 26.
