Westfield State women's swimming and diving fell to Simmons College, 146-118 in a season opening dual meet in Boston on Friday evening.

The Owls won five individual events, highlighted by Wiktoria Kaczor doubling up in winning the 50 yard breaststroke in 34.62, and the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.25.

First-year Ally Linkenhofer topped the 1000 freestyle in 12:17.46, Kat Ferri was tops in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:05.71, and Kara Banagan claimed the 1-meter diving event with scores of 153.90 and 219.67.

The meet marked a new era in Owls swimming, as head coact Tom Avila piloted the Owls.  Avila took the reins of the program late this summer, as longtime head coach Dave Laing retired after a 40-year career as the coach of the Owls.