Swim and Dive dominate Friars in season opener

Photo from gorhody.com.

After the 2020 portion of the University of Rhode Island Swim and Dive season was cancelled and a two-month pause was put in place, the Rams were eager to get back in the water this past weekend. 

It was a team effort from Rhody that allowed them to dominate their first meet of the season against in-state rivals, Providence College. Head Coach Mick Westkott enjoyed the ability to just be able to compete

“It was welcomed,” said Coach Westkott. “We have not competed for a year, so it felt really good to get up and race somebody besides ourselves.”

Their eagerness was shown through their impressive results against the Friars. The Rams beat their opponent by 57 points, with a score of 165-108. Sophomore Camryn Kreuscher had a standout day with victories in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races. Another sophomore, Julia Renna, also had a bright day by scoring points in three different events for the Rams, including winning the 50-yard backstroke. New Hampshire-transfer Michaela Degnan took first place in the 100-yard backstroke, earning points for Rhody. Coach Westkott was pleased by the effort given by the team. 

“Every person, to a T, finished [their] race very well,” Coach Westkott said. “Nobody gave up, everybody finished strong, and when there were close touches, we won almost every touch. I want to congratulate the whole team on that effort.”

URI swept the diving events with sophomore Marta Baumann’s first place victory on the 1-meter dive and Brianna Tocoo’s victory on the 3-meter dive. 

Although Rhody took the win, Coach Westkott has plans to further the team’s success. He is going to start training the athletes more specific to their event and stroke to make up for the time they lost during the off season. With pandemic restrictions, the team works in “functional groups,” according to Westkott, which are small groups of five or six athletes in order to maintain social distance at all times. This has resulted in less time in the water, however.

Preceding COVID-19, Westkott said there would be practice in the water 14 hours per week and dry land/lifting six hours per week. Currently, there are only 10 hours of water practices and 6 hours of dry land/lifting. 

“The time we aren’t in the water has been a major change in what we are doing this year, and I think the athletes are managing it very well,” Coach Westkott said.

Coach Westkott had three goals for this season: to stay healthy, to compete to the best of their ability and keep the team spirit strong. His goals are on track to completion, with one win down and spirits flying high. 

Next Saturday, the Rams will host another in-state rival, Bryant University at the Tootell Aquatic Center at noon.