Erin Richards ’15
Sports Editor
Smith College swimming competed against rival Mount Holyoke in the Dalton Pool on Saturday, Feb. 9. Though they were defeated 166–133, it was still an exciting day for Smith swimmers as the last dual meet of the season.
Team captain Olivia Bannon ’14 reflected on her past season and the four years spent as a Pioneer swimmer: “I’m going to miss the long workouts, close friendships and just the team environment. It is very unique and you can’t experience that at any other place. I’ll also miss my coach and teammates. It has been a great experience; it basically defined my overall experience at Smith. I spend the majority of my time with the team, in and out of the pool.”
Bannon cites her best meet of the season as the Gompei invite at WPI, where she had a rough start to the morning session but came back with season bests in the afternoon session. She finished first in both of her events this past weekend: the 100 breaststroke, with a time of 1:11.05, and the 200 breaststroke, with a time of 2:33.13.
Alyssa Pascuzzo ’15 had her best meet of the season this past weekend. Said Pascuzzo, “I got a season best time, and am finally dropping some time, because I’ve been kind of stuck. I also think it was the team’s best meet. We were really competitive. There were a lot of season bests by swimmers who won’t be competing in the NEWMAC championship. Mount Holyoke is really good competition; we swim with them a lot, so there are a lot of girls who are our friends outside of the pool too.” Pascuzzo finished third in all three events on Saturday: the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.65, the 100 fly with a time of 1:04.81 and the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:21.46. She believes the team dynamic this season has become a lot closer due to a great incoming group of first years, both talent- and personality-wise. Pascuzzo added, “We’ve improved a lot as a team; there have been a lot of time drops and hopefully more to come.”
As the team looks forward to their final meet of the season, the NEWMAC Championship on Feb. 20-23, they are hopeful for season and lifetime bests for all of their swimmers. With incredible time drops in the past at the NEWMAC Championship meet, it should be an easy feat. Both Bannon and Pascuzzo have personal goals for the meet. Bannon is aiming for the school record in the 100-yard breaststroke, which she is only a few seconds shy of attaining. If she secures the record, a nationals B cut is also an achievable goal. As for Pascuzzo, she is going after the same goal she has been chasing for four years: to break a minute in her 100-yard fly. The NEWMAC Championship will be held at WPI starting Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m.
