CLINTON, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's swimming & diving program returned to action on Saturday in a quad meet at Hamilton College competing against the hosts, RIT and Wesleyan University in their first action of 2024. The Bombers were able to best Wesleyan in thrilling fashion capturing a 151-149 win but dropped a 177-123 result to RIT and lost 193-107 against Hamilton.

The Bombers "A" relay squad finished fifth in the 200-yard medley relay with Katie Champagne, Spencer Carroll, Kathleen Papiernik and Samantha Bender teamed for a 1:53.12 result. RIT took home first place finishing the event in 1:48.94. Emma Heinze earned valuable team points in the 1000-yard freestyle coming in second with a time of 11:10.60. Papiernik was the top Bomber finisher in the 21^st event of the afternoon, the 200-yard breaststroke as she finished fifth at 2:37.48.

Naomi Fry was second in the 200-yard freestyle putting together a time of 2:01.68 as she was behind RIT's Anna Beahan who finished the race in 2:00.49. Another second-place result was captured by Katie Champagne in the 100-yard backstroke as she recorded a time of 1:01.45 as Caroline Shen from Hamilton was faster touching the final wall in 1:01.24.

Spencer Carroll was fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.38) and the top IC finisher in the 200-yard butterfly coming in ninth with a time of 2:23.01 was Kathleen Papiernik. Samantha Bender was able to come up with a sixth-place result in the 50 free as she went 25.56 with Hamilton's Jade Matthias besting the field at 24.58. Bender nearly won the 200-yard backstroke coming in second with a time of 2:13.16. She was beat by RIT's Madisen Pavoris who recorded a time of 2:11.45.

In diving action, the Bombers took home the first three spots on the podium on the 1-meter boards with Kailee Payne besting the field. Payne put together an 11-dive total score of 296.30 as coming in second was Abby Marraccino and in third-place was Angela Burke (254.75). Ithaca was almost able to do the same in the 3-meter event as Kailee Payne once again took home first-place putting together a score of 308.80. Right behind her again was Marraccino who totaled a 274.55, but in third was RIT's Gwen Petrie (269.70) and Angela Burke was fourth with a finals score of 257.65.

Angela Merch came in fifth for IC in the 100-yard free putting together a finals time of 55.03 with Hamilton's Jade Matthias once again pacing the field this time in this event a time of 53.94. Naomi Fry scored a sixth place result in the 500-yard freestyle touching the final wall in 5:32.02. In the 200-yard IM, Angela Merch (2:17.68) scored a fifth-place finish as the top Ithaca finisher with Anna Peshenko from RIT winning with a time of 2:14.75.

The final event of the meet was the 200-yard freestyle relay where Ithaca finished fourth with Naomi Fry, Spencer Carroll, Angela Merch and Samantha Bender combining for a time of 1:42.61. The Bombers will return to action in exactly one week when they will compete in the Henry Kumpf Invitational hosted by RIT on January 20. Action from Troy, N.Y. will begin at noon.