Sharks and Cadets Repeat as 2012 GNAC Swimming & Diving Champions

BOSTON, Mass. -- After two grueling days of competition, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference crowned its 2012 Women's Swimming and Diving and Men's Invitational Champions this evening at the Holmes Sports Center. Simmons captured the women's championship with 313 points, while the Norwich University Cadet's took home top honors in the Men's Invitational with 242.

The women's field was faster than ever, as 13 GNAC records and four pool records were broken over the course of the weekend's events.

The Sharks first place finish marks their ninth consecutive win as conference champions and eleventh win in the last twelve years. Junior Jen Collins (Trumbull, Conn.) scored 33 individual points for Simmons, and broke the GNAC record in the 200 Free, 200 IM and 100 Free. In addition, she was the final leg of the winning 200 Free and 800 Free Relay teams.

Simmons sophomore Chloe Davis scored 27 individual points for the Sharks and took home top honors in the 200 Back and was a member of the winning 200 Free and 800 Free Relays.

Regis College scored 209.5 points as runners up, with Brenna Melanson and Haley Bowen each scoring a meet-high 34 individual points for the Pride Melanson set a new GNAC record in the 50 Free, 100 Back and 50 Back and set a new pool record in both the 100 and 50 Back events.  Bowen set a new GNAC record in the 50 Breast and 100 Breast and finished first in the 200 Back.

Elms College placed third with146 points with meet standout Devon Degrazia posting 31 individual points. Degrazia won the 500 Free, set a new GNAC and pool record in the 1650 Free and was the first leg of the winning 400 Medley Relay.

Saint Joseph's College of Maine finished in fourth place with 70.5 points with Lauren Rabideau scoring 17.50 individual points for the Monks.

Husson University took fifth place honors, scoring 59 points as Martina Bosse captured the 1 Meter diving crown for the second year in a row.

The University of Saint Joseph finished with a close 52 points with Suki Hood setting a new GNAC record in the 400 IM.

Norwich University finished with 30 points with diver Justina George finishing third in the 1 Meter competition with 119.26 points.

On the men's side, the Cadets posted new GNAC records in the 1 Meter Diving, 1650 Freestyle, 400 IM, and 800 Free Relay for 242 points and the 2012 GNAC Men's Invitational title. Lance Webster scored 29 individual points for the Norwich and Patrick Bowden added 23.

Elms College scored 216 points, with wins in the 500 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 50 Fly, 400 Medley Relay, 50 Breast and 200 Fly.  Stephen Lynch was the top point scorer of the Men's Invitational with 34 individual points, and the Blazers set five new GNAC records over the weekend.

In third place, Regis College scored 203 points and posted wins in the 200 Free Relay, 200 IM, 50 Free, 100 Breast, 200 Medley Relay, 100 Free, 200 Back and 50 Back events. The Pride set six new GNAC records and Nick Yerzyk finished with 32 individual points to pace the men's team.

Saint Joseph's College of Maine finished with 156 points and Alex Gilvey posted new GNAC records in the 100 and 200 Back events. The Monks were just out touched in the 800 Free Relay by three tenths of a second by Norwich in the final event of the evening.

Click here for the full weekend's results

Click here for the all-tournament team selections

*Release courtesy of Simmons College Sports Information Dept.