Women First, Men Fourth After Opening Day at NEAC Championships

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. – The Wells College women's swimming team concluded the first day of the 2014 North Eastern Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships in first place, tallying 131 team points to lead the six team field after 10 events on Friday. The men's squad from Wells racked up 71 points, placing fourth amongst the four team field. The Express women are looking for their third-straight NEAC title while the men's program looks to repeat for the second consecutive season.

The day's events opened with a bang as the Wells College foursome in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay set a program record with a time of 1:48.70, earning 26 points for their team with a second place finish. Freshman Amelia Flint (Bath, N.Y.), sophomore Nina Daniels (Pittsford, N.Y.), junior Olive Touron (Cato, N.Y.) and sophomore Hilary Feudale (Coal Township, Pa.) combined to post the fastest time in program history in the event, eclipsing a nearly 20 year old record.

During the 1984 NYSAIAW Championships, the foursome of Sharon Eghigian '84, Suzanne Benson '87, Michele Delahunty '87 and Christine Moleski '85 recorded a time of 1:49.43 for Wells, holding the top time in the event for 20 years. Wells foursomes combined to post the second and third best times in the event at the 2012 and 2013 NEAC Championships, respectively, but never claimed first in the event.

The men's foursome of junior Alex Lamphear (Springfield, N.H.), freshman Lucas Donnenwirth (Frankfort, N.Y.), senior Tyler Fischetti (Weedsport, N.Y.) and senior captain Matthew Sleezer (Gloversville, N.Y.) posted a first place finish in the same event, completing their event with a time of 1:41.70 to earn 32 points for the Express right out of the gate.

Feudale set a new program record in the 50 Yard Freestyle event, placing third amongst the field at the NEAC Championships with a time of 25.84 seconds. Earlier in the season, Feudale posted a time of 26.31 seconds against Ferrum and Gallaudet on Dec. 7. Sleezer captured first place in the 50 Yard Freestyle, earning 16 points with a 22.70 second time in the finals.

Donnenwirth set a career-best time in the 50 Yard Freestyle, completing his race in 29.90 seconds. Additionally, Fischetti set a career-best time in the 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 5:45.53.

Wells swimmers placed second, third and fourth, respectively, in the 500 Yard Freestyle to earn a combined 36 points. Daniels (5:53.63), Flint (5:57.1) and Touron (5:57.15) all trailed the leader from Cobleskill, but boosted the Express to an early lead.

The second day of finals at the NEAC Championships kicks off at 6:00 p.m. on the campus of Cazenovia College on Saturday, Feb. 15.