WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State took home three of the major awards at the 2022 Little East Conference women's swimming and diving championships at the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Mass.
Westfield State first-year Alexa Richter (Westfield, Mass.) was named the league's rookie swimmer of the year, sophomore diver Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) was named the rookie diver of the year, and head coach Dave Laing was named the coach of the year.
Richter lowered the school record in the 100 freestyle twice today, swimming a 54.74 to win the 100 freestyle finals after a 54.78 in the prelims earlier in the day. That broke a record that was set 17 years ago to the day, which was held by Owls Hall of Famer Vanessa Morton (54.81). For Richter, it was her third individual title of the meet, as she previously won the 50 and 1000 freestyle events.
Junior Wiktoria Kaczor (Belchertown, Mass.) added another individual conference crown for the Owls, swimming 2:31.63 to win the league title in the 200 breaststroke.
Also today, junior Kat Ferri (Springfield, Mass./Central) had her best swin of the meet with a fourth-place finish in the 200 butterfly in 2:30.10; Nicole Pechulis (Logmeadow, Mass.) was sixth in the 100 free in 57.25; Aly Locke (Brookfield, Mass./Tantasqua) took eighth in 50 backstroke in 32.74; and the 400 free relay of Richter, Karoline Warzybok (Chicopee, Mass.) , Ferri, and Pechulis placed fourth in 3:50.78.
Banagan took home the rookie hardware in the diving events, having placed first in the 3-meter event on Saturday, and second in the 1-meter event on Monday. She is truly a rookie in the diving events, competing in her first-ever meet this fall.
Laing led the Owls to a fourth place finish at the meet, and his team posted a 6-0 mark in dual meets against Little East Conference teams this season.
Additionally, Laing was recognized by his peers before the Tuesday night session – the final meet of his career, in honor of his 40-year career as head coach of the Owls. Laing has announced his retirement from coaching, effective at the end of this season.
A retirement party for coach Laing is being planned for early summer.
Keene State ended up the team champions with 855 points, followed by Bridgewater (719), Eastern Connecticut (704) Westfield (540) and Rhode Island College (339).