Swimming kicks off season: women’s

Women’s swimming beats Centre 158-98

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Katie Gardner, ‘18, won two individual events. Photo courtesy of W&L Sports Information.

W&L Sports Information

The Washington and Lee women’s swim team opened its 2015-16 campaign with a 158-98 victory over Centre on Saturday at Cy Twombly Pool.

Sophomore Katie Gardner (Irvington, N.Y. / Irvington) led the way for W&L, winning two individual events and swimming on one winning relay.

Gardner claimed the top spot in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.79 and won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:35.73. She also swam on the 200-yard medley relay that finished first with a time of 1:52.05. Gardner was joined by first-year Elle Chancey (Tampa, Fla. / Berkeley Preparatory School), sophomore Kira Tomenchok (Richmond, Va. / Trinity Episcopal School) and senior Stephanie Foster (Columbia, Md. / Long Beach).

Chancey, along with juniors Emily Rollo (Haddonfield, N.J. / Haddonfield Memorial) and Elisabeth Holmes (Raleigh, N.C. / Needham B. Broughton) and senior Sarah Schaffer (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton Warrenville South), were members of the 200-yard free relay that touched the wall in 1:41.58 for first place. Holmes also won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 54.14.

Sophomore Mara Tynan (Westford, Mass. / Westford Academy) recorded two first-place finishes, claiming the 200-yard freestyle (2:03.77) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:28.40).

Junior Haylee Rademann (Folsom, Calif. / St. Francis) took first in the 200-yard individual medley, touching the wall in 2:21.37.

First-years Alison Murtagh (Andover, Mass. / Andover) and Laura Gottschalk (Lake Forest, Ill. / Lake Forest) also had first-place showings for the Generals. Murtagh claimed the 1000-yard freestyle (11:04.47) and Gottschalk earned the top spot in the 100-yard backstroke (1:04.60).

W&L returns to the pool on Friday when it travels to Mary Washington. The meet is set to begin at 5:00 p.m.