Women Poet Swimming and Dive Team earn third SCIAC win in new pool

Bartholomew, feature 4, Joshua De Bets, Marco Axel, swimming and diving, women swim team, Sports - By Joshua De Bets on Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 00:29

During their first home swim meet in nearly two years, the Whittier College Women’s Swimming and Diving Team set 10 pool records in their 162-51 victory over the rival La Verne Leopards.

Senior diver Christine Zmuda got the Poets going as she placed first in the 1-meter dive with a score of 119.00. In the 200-yard breast Whittier placed first, second and third with sophomore fly and breaststroke swimmer Haley Von Schottenstein, sophomore breaststroke swimmer Mattie Winkler and sophomore breaststroke swimmer Melanie Peel.

Despite the cold and rainy weather, fans came out to watch the Poets in the inaugural swim meet at the Lilian Aquatic Center. The team of junior distance and backstroke swimmer Erin Bartholomew, Von Schottenstein, first-year individual medley and butterfly swimmer Evelyn Beguiristain and senior sprint and free swimmer Kristin Hallsted placed first in the 400-yard medley with a time of 4:14.24.

Bartholomew continues to break school records as she slowly secures her place in the Whittier College Hall of Fame as she posted a time of 18:20.50 in the 1650-yard free.

First-year distance swimmer Kimberley Hallsted finished first in the 200-yard free with a time of 2:03.86 and another first place finish in the 500-yard free. Von Schottenstein posted a time of 25.05 in the 50-yard free and a time of 2:34.04 in the 200-yard breast to finish her day.

Beguiristain, who holds the school record in the 200-yard fly, posted a strong time of 2:18.30 and earned first place honors.

Two events later, senior sprint and free swimmer Carsen West posted a time of 56.93 in the 100-yard free as the team of Kimberley and Kristin Hallsted, senior IM and breaststroke swimmer Brianne O’Doherty and West finished first with a time of 3:54.74 in the 400-yard free relay.

The Poets improve to 3-2 in SCIAC meets and continue their record breaking season against the University of Redlands Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m.