by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

Corsairs finish third in New England Championships Petrone, Motta honored as diver and coach of the year

(Dartmouth, MA) - The UMass Dartmouth women's swimming and diving team capped an outstanding 2000-2001 season by finishing third at the New England Division II/III Championships while also receiving two very special honors. UMass Dartmouth diver Danielle Petrone (Attleboro, MA) was named the Diver of the Meet and Corsair head coach Kathy Motta earned New England Women Coach of the Year honors.

One of the biggest reasons for the Corsairs' success was the tremendous accomplishment of first-year swimmer Kathy Kelley (Melrose, MA) and Petrone. Kelley set five personal school records in four different events and was part of a medley relay team which set a new school record. Petrone captured a New England diving championship at 3 meters and was one of two Corsairs to capture Little East Conference diving championships.

Kelley set school records in the 200 breast stroke (2:42:28), the 100 breaststroke (1:12.96) and later in the season broke her own school record in the 200 breaststroke (2:36.10). Competing in the Division II/III New England Championships held at Bentley College on February 17-18, Kelley capped her season with three more new school records. On the first day of the event, Kelley set a new school record as part of the UMass Dartmouth 400 medley relay team (4:18.84).

Kelley wasn't the only school record setter for the Corsairs on the first day of the New Englands. First-year swimmer Amy Stucci (Westboro, MA) set a school record in the 200IM (2:17.86). On the second day of the New Englands, Kelley saved her best for her final record-setting performance of the season. In the 100 breaststroke, Kelly placed third overall in New England with a time of 1:11.89, breaking her own school record.

While Kelley was setting swimming records, Petrone was doing the same in the newly formed LEC championship diving events. Petrone was the LEC 1-meter diving champion and first-year diver Michelle Sanuik (Dedham, MA) was the champion at 3-meters, both setting conference records in the first championship event. Petrone capped her outstanding season by taking the women's New England 3 meter diving championship, while first-year diver Tara Keefe (Medford, MA) was third in the 1 meter and fourth at the 3 meter in the New Englands.

Several other Corsair swimmers posted impressive marks during the season. Also qualifying for the New England Championships were senior Antonia Cardoza (New Bedford, MA) in the 200 Free and junior co-captain Diana Parisi (Medford, MA) in the 50 Fly. Two Corsair relays teams appeared in the New England Championships including the 400 Medley Relay team of first-year swimmer Jess Looney (Raynham, MA), Kelley, Stucci and Cardoza and the 800 Free Relay team of Stucci, first-year swimmer Andrea Desjardins (E. Freetown, MA), senior co-captain Mary MacGregor (Bridgewater, MA) and Cardoza.

In dual meets during the regular season, UMass Dartmouth's women compiled a record of 7-3 overall. The Corsairs' men's team didn't enjoy the same success as the women, finishing their season with an 0-8 record. Jeff Garza (Groton, MA) qualified for the New England Championships in the 1-meter diving event.