Stags And Athenas Down Whittier

The CMS men's and women's swimming and diving teams each moved to 4-0 in SCIAC, after a pair of home dual meet wins versus Whittier College on January 19, 2008. The Stags defeated the Poets 150-53 and the Athenas topped Whittier 191-31.

Taking advantage of a warm and sunny day, the divers got the Athenas and Stags off to a strong start by showing off their full 11-dive 1-meter lists. Senior Monica Emanuel (Walnut Creek) scored a personal best total of 419.60 to lead the Athenas, while freshman Garrett Smith (Goleta) took first for the Stags with a score of 396.65. Smith also won the 3-meter diving competition.

Chrysanthia Cheung-Lau (FR, Ontario) was a triple winner for the Athenas, winning the 500 freestyle and completing legs of the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. For good measure, Cheung-Lau also swam the 1000 freestyle as an exhibition event.

Caitrin O'Brien (SO, Potomac, MD) also had a big day for CMS, taking the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke and finishing a mere .10 seconds behind victorious teammate, Gwen Kremer (SR, San Diego), in the 200 IM. Other Athena event winners included Heidi Wolfgruber (FR, New Canaan, CT, 200 freestyle), Tessa Dover (FR, San Luis Obispo, 50 freestyle), Clair Geary (SO, Pelham, MA, 3-meter diving), Quirina Mitchell (SO, Kingsburg, 100 butterfly) and Carliann Brashier (FR, Highlands Ranch, CO, 100 freestyle). Dover, Wolfgruber, Cheung-Lau and Danielle Peebles (JR, La Mesa) won the 200 medley relay, while Mitchell, Cheung-Lau, Brashier and Jordan Stewart (JR, Minnetonka, MN) capped the meet by winning the 200 free relay.

Five separate Stags won individual swimming events, all of them first-year team members. Brian Li (Hong Kong, 1000 free), Andrew Cosentino (Greenwich, CT, 200 free), Michael Chiu (Northridge, 100 butterfly), Nick Ostreim (Phoenix, AZ, 100 backstroke) and Brian Nadler (Davis, 500 freestyle) each touched first in their events. Combined with Smith's diving victories, Stag freshmen won seven individual events at the meet. Another frosh, Ian McGinnity (Mesa, AZ), teamed with upperclassmen Matt Gannon (JR, Valencia), Jake Richardson (SO, Belmont) and Tyler Owens (SR, Camarillo) to win the 200 medley relay and first-year Stag, Ryan Kristensen (Saugus), joined Cosentino, Chiu, and John Sloat (JR, Lafayette) to take the 200 free relay.

The meet marked the end of an intensive two-week "training camp" for the CMS swimmers and divers. Conference competition resumes at CMS's Axelrood pool on Saturday, January 26 with a dual meet versus cross-campus rival, Pomona-Pitzer. Diving begins at 10:00 a.m. and swimming will begin at 11:00 a.m.