ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's swimming and diving team picked up two wins today, defeating Bethany 60-41 and Franciscan 57-42 in a home opener tri-meet on Saturday at the Junker Center.
The Lions faced the Barons for the first time in program history to collect an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC ) victory, winning two relay and five individual events.
Behrend started out strong, finishing 1-2 in the opening 200 medley relay. Katie Siffrinn (Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillan), Julie Cook (Warren, PA/Warren), Anne Lawrence (State College, PA/State Colleg) and Hilary MacManus (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk) won in 1:57.98. The second –place team consisted of Emily Spicher (Falls Creek, PA/DuBois), Nicole Nau (Johnstown, PA/, Sarah Jelinek (Warren, PA/Warren) and Elizabeth Causgrove (Erie, PA/McDowell). They foursome clocked in at 2:20.25.
In the 200 free, Jesse Dunleavy (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) came out on top in a time of 2:08.31.
Jamie Boyle (Sarver, PA/Freeport) took third in the 50 free for Behrend, finishing in 29.48, while Siffrinn came in second in the 200 IM in 2:29.28, five seconds behind first.
Freshman Megan Wade (Berea, OH/Berea) dominated the 1-meter diving event, placing firs with 240.80 points for six dives. Emily Frederick (Russell, PA/Eisenhower) was second for Behrend, diving for a 159.65 score.
The 100 butterfly belonged to Lawrence. She won over Franciscan's Graceanne Beatovich with a time of 1:02.89 to her 1:05.76.
MacManus was a close second in the 100 freestyle, touching the pad in 59.10 just a second less than Marina Baker of Bethany.
The Lions won the next two events, thanks to MaryEllen Spooner (Lockhaven, PA/Springfield) and Dunleavy. Spooner was first in the 100 backstroke (1:05.11) and Dunleavy won the 500 free (5:51.04). Lawrence followed Dunleavy in second with a time of 6:00.36.
To secure both wins, Behrend swam a first-place finish in the final 200 free relay. MacManus, Spooner, Boyle and Dunleavy were the four that had a time of 1:50.88 for the victory and last points.
The Lions return to action on Saturday against Baldwin-Wallace, beginning at 1 p.m.
