Seahawks Sweep Hood, Catholic in Season-Opener
Brie McDowell
St. Mary's City, Md. - Senior captain Brie McDowell (Doylestown, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) set a school record in the 200 free as the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's swim team swept its tri-meet with Catholic University and Capital Athletic Conference opponent, Hood College, Saturday afternoon. The Seahawks (2-0, 1-0 CAC) picked up a 154-51 win over Catholic and a 170-28 victory over Hood.
McDowell broke her own mark from two years ago when she posted a first-place time of 1:57.85, beating her old record by 0.87 seconds.
McDowell captured the 100 back with an NCAA provisional time of 59.42 and was also the first leg of the winning 200 medley relay team which posted a 1:54.09.
Fellow senior captain Nat Schaefer (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) was a two-time winner Saturday as Schaefer won both distance events. Schaefer posted a time of 11:29.16 in the 1000 free and a 5:39.42 in the 500 free. She was also the first leg of the second-placed 200 free relay team (1:53.17).
Junior Rachel Hotchko (Yakima, Wash./A.C. Davis) also was a multiple winner as the defending 100 fly CAC champion posted a winning time of 1:01.51 in the 100 fly and went 25.70 to win the 50 free. Hotchko was the first leg of the winning 200 free relay team which swam a 1:45.01.
Sophomore Sofia Sokolove (Bethesda, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) captured the 200 IM in 2:19.66 and swam the second leg of the winning 200 medley relay. Sokolove came in second in the 100 breast in 1:12.52.
Senior Eleanor Koerner (North Potomac, Md./T.S. Wootton) won multiple events as well as Koerner anchored the first-place 200 medley relay team and captured the 100 free in 56.67.
Junior Monika Disque (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) finished second in the 1000 free in 11:41.58 and fellow classmate Laura VanBlargan (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) was second in the 500 free in 5:48.00.
Junior Dominique Perez (Rockville, Md./Holy Child) placed second in the 50 free with a time of 26.35 and swam the third leg on the winning 200 free relay.
Freshman Katie Serfling (Frederick, Md./Urbana) notched a second-place finish behind Sokolove in the 200 IM in 2:23.99.
The Seahawks will be back in the pool next Friday, November 14 when St. Mary's travels to Ashland, Va. for a dual meet with Randolph-Macon College at 4:00 in non-conference action.
