UMass Dartmouth women place third at New Englands Championships, men finish seventh

(Dartmouth, MA) – UMass Dartmouth’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams capped successful seasons with strong finishes at the annual Division III New England Championships held Feb. 21-23 at Bentley College. Coach Cathy Motta’s women swimmers and Gerry Jennings divers placed third overall, while the Corsairs’ men placed seventh overall.

The third-place finish at the New England Championships was only the latest in a long line of successes for the Corsair women last season. UMass Dartmouth placed second at the 2002-03 Little East Conference championships held in December at UMass Dartmouth. Throughout the season, UMass Dartmouth received several strong individual performances, leading to a 10-4 won-loss record.

The Corsairs’ standout swimmer for 2002-03 was junior tri-captain Amy Stucchi (Westboro, MA). She finished the season with a pair of New England Division III championships to her credit, including the 200 IM and the 400 IM. Stucchi also played a big part in the Corsairs’ success at the LEC women’s meet, taking conference championships in the 200 Fly (2:20.03) and 400 IM (4:50.92). In total, Stucchi set new school records in four events, including her 2:16.16 to take the 200 IM title at New Englands and her 2:14.36 to take second in the 200 Fly at the same event.

Among the Corsairs’ other top performances in the New Englands were a second by junior Tara Keefe (Medford, MA) in three-meter diving with 3347.95 points. First-year swimmer Seanna McRae (Taunton, MA) took home third at New Englands in the 100 Back with a time of 104.58. The 800 Free Relay team of sophomore Pam Sinnott (Duxbury, MA), first-year swimmer Erika Szivos (Gardner. MA), junior tri-captain Andrea Desjardins (E. Freetown, MA) and Stucchi placed third in their event.

At the Little East Conference Championships held December 7, 2002, Szivos was the LEC champion in the 1000 Free (11:39.26), setting a new LEC record by 21 seconds.

On the men’s side for UMass Dartmouth, four Corsairs turned in top six finishes at the New England Swimming and Diving Championships held Feb. 21-23 at Bentley College. Freshman Garrick Wong Needham, MA) took third in the 100 Back (:58.36) and was fifth in the 100 Free (:50.71), while freshman Gino Escalante (Fall River, MA) was fourth in the 400 IM (4:33.23) and fifth in the 1650 Free (18:10.38). Sophomore Keith Poyant (Acushnet, MA) was fourth in the 100 IM in: 59:49 and later teamed with Escalante, sophomore Jay Brinley (Melrose, MA), and Wong to take fourth in the 800 Free Relay (7:50.16). Brinley took fourth in the 100 IM (:59.49) and sixth in the 200 IM 2:12.04.

For the season, UMass Dartmouth’s men all qualified for the New England Championships and posted a 4-8 won-loss record in dual meet competition.