'On This Day' Women’s Swimming Team Sets 5 NEAC Records with 1st NEAC Title

'On This Day' is a Wells College Athletics feature series taking a look back on events that occurred on this day, Feb. 19, nine years ago in 2012.

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. – The Wells College women's swimming team earned three first-place finishes in the final day to pull away from Cazenovia College with a three-day total of 460.5 points to earn their first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2012, in Cazenovia.

The Express were tied for the lead after day one with Cazenovia with 150 points, led Caz by three points after day two, and would run away with the championship on Sunday evening. The Express set five NEAC records on their way to the conference championship.

The Wildcats finished second with 421.5 points, Gallaudet placed third with 404 points, SUNY Cobleskill placed fourth with 399 points, and The College of St. Elizabeth placed fifth with 262 points.

Idolyn Villiotti started the memorable evening for the Express, placing first in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 2:31.99. Gabby Spencer backed the effort in the very next event placing first in the 100 Freestyle with NEAC record setting time of 58.75, while Olivia Touron placed third in the event with a time of 1:01.83.

The 400 Freestyle Relay Team rounded out the highlights for the Express placing first with a NEAC record time of 4:02.65 which also placed the team sixth all-time at Wells.

The following awards were given at the end of the championship: Women's Coach of the Year: Bill Houser, Cazenovia College; Women's Swimmer and/or Diver of the Year: Alexandra Polivanchuk, Gallaudet; Women's Rookie of the Year: Laura Kransnigi, Cazenovia College.