UMass Women’s Swim Team Shines at Tri-Meet
The UMass women’s swim team had an impressive day, triumphing over La Salle (155-143) and Rhode Island (183-115) at Kirk Pool. They showcased their talent with 17 top-three finishes and secured seven gold medals.
Freshman Flora Klimesch started strong, winning the 800 freestyle in 8:25.56. Junior Ece Yildirim followed closely, taking second with a time of 8:36.00. In the 150 freestyle, junior Beren Cakiroglu finished third with 1:23.70, while sophomore Maria Grishaeva claimed third in the 50 backstroke, clocking in at 27.92.
Freshman Kata Baranova excelled in the 50 breaststroke, winning gold with a time of 29.75. At the same time, junior Lindsay Burbage secured third at 30.46. Sophomore Hannah Schoenauer took home the bronze in the 150 butterfly with a time of 1:33.51.
The 50 freestyle skins event was thrilling. Sophomore Courtney Tedesco dominated, finishing first in 24.56. Her teammate Karinne Everly grabbed third at 25.00. Cakiroglu later won gold in the individual 50 freestyle with a time of 24.62. Grishaeva and Burbage continued to impress, with Grishaeva winning gold in the 150 backstroke (1:33.48) and Burbage taking silver in the 150 breaststroke (1:45.11).
Klimesch bagged her second gold in the 400 freestyle, finishing in 4:06.82. Tedesco achieved a personal best in the 50 butterfly, while junior Diya Ackerman-Vallala placed second in the 100 individual medley with a personal best of 1:00.17.
In relay events, the 200 medley team of Grishaeva, Baranova, Everly, and Tedesco earned silver, finishing in 1:45.91. Meanwhile, the 200 freestyle relay team, composed of Tedesco, Everly, Ackerman-Vallala, and Cakiroglu, took first place with an impressive time of 1:37.78.
Both the men’s and women’s swim teams are set to return to the pool after the new year, hosting Bryant on January 5 at 11 a.m.
This victory highlights the team’s strong performance in a competitive environment and sets an exciting tone for the rest of the season. Keep an eye on these athletes as they continue to push their limits!
