Ava Lowell Named LL Diver of the Year; Women’s Swimming & Diving Capture Third-Straight Liberty League Championship

SATURDAY RESULTS | FULL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. – After once again showcasing its depth, speed, diving talents and relay teamwork across the four-day Liberty League the Ithaca College women's swimming & diving program were crowned champions for the third-straight season. The Bombers won the event by racking up 1,597 team points as RIT finished the meet in second with 1,339 points.

Graduate student Ava Lowell was named 2021-22 Diver of the Year after winning both the one-meter and 3-meter events. She reset the association and championship record in the 3-meter event on Saturday totaling a finals score of 547.45. IC dominated the event with Rachel Lange (481.30) finishing second, Eliana Wallock (480.70) third Abby Maraccino (475.90) fourth and Karalyn Pawcio (475.85) fifth.

In the meets longest event, the 1,650-yard freestyle IC's Morgan Hoffman-Smith repeated as champion of the event. This year she put together a recorded time of 17:44.59, which was almost six seconds faster than her teammate Ava Palfreyman who finished the event second with a time of 17:50.57.

The Bombers would then see both Emily VanderSleen and Jane Pfeufer compete in the finals of the 100-yard freestyle, but St. Lawrences' Maggie Wenger was able to take home first-place with a time of 52.32. VanderSleen was the Bombers top finisher coming in third with a time of 52.50 and Pfeufer finished the event fifth with a recorded time of 53.29.

Katie Champagne was able to further add to Ithaca's overall team lead with a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:07.61. Jesse Ecklund from Vassar College put together the top time of 2:01.74 in the finals.

Jenna Molnar grabbed the Bombers more team points in the 200-yard breaststroke by qualifying for the "A" final. The junior scored an eighth-place finish with a recorded time of 2:28.77 with Anna Peshenko from RIT winning the event with a time of 2:20.58.

In the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the team from RIT won the race with a time of 3:31.55. The foursome of Katie Champagne, Morgan Hoffman-Smith, Jane Pfeufer, Emily VanderSleen teamed up to finish fourth with a recorded time of 3:32.72.

Next up, the divers will compete in the NCAA Diving Regionals beginning Friday, Feb. 25-26.