Owls Celebrate Senior Day, Win 3 Events at WNE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –   Westfield State University women's swimming and diving celebrated an impromptu senior day in an unusual way, honoring seniors Olivia Harkins (Woburn, Mass.) and Vivian Vanderpool (Elgin, Okla.) during today meet at the Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center at Western New England University on Saturday.

The senior day festivities were moved up a day due to the impending winter storm, as the meet at Elms has been rescheduled for Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at Elms, and the senior day was on the road, as a major renovation of the Ely Pool mechanical systems at Westfield State is still being finalized.

Harkins, a four-year competitor for the Owls, and Vanderpool, who transferred to Westfield as a junior, were both recognized by Owls' head coach Matt Nodell for their hard work, competitiveness, and dedication to the program.

Westfield fell to WNE by a final score of 158-103, with several Owl swimmers sidelined with minor injuries and the lineup shuffled as the team preps for the Little East Championship meet in mid-February.

The Owls performances were highlighted by a trio of event victories. Aurora Lee (South Hadley, Mass.) led the way for the Owls with a strong win in the 1,000-yard freestyle, outlasting the field in 12:26.60 to claim the distance event.

In the sprints, Autumn Sutherland (Cedar Hills, Utah) delivered a sharp performance to take first place in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.77.

Westfield State closed the meet on a high note in the relays, as Sutherland, Jackie Roccabruna (Pittsfield, Mass.), Harkins, and Vanderpool combined to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:55.10, with the Owls overtaking Western New England mid race and Vanderpool holding off WNE's Vicky Stepien to the touchpad.

Western New England honored its seniors prior to the meet.  Special thanks to WNE's coaching staff and administration for helping facilitate today's senior day activities.