Melissa Simpson '11
First-year Melissa Simpson (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) set a new school record Sunday as Sweet Briar swimming moved to 5-1 on the season with a 117-80 win over visiting College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
Simpson’s record-breaking swim came in the 200 M. backstroke. She touched the wall first with a time of 2:33.09, breaking the previous school record of 2:36.70. The previous record was set by Sharon Bittner in 1989.
Simpson also captured first in the 200 M. freestyle with a time of 2:21.91. Vixen junior Stephanie Perks (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) also earned two first-place finishes to help the Vixens win the first seven events.
Perks’ victories both came in freestyle events. She took the 50 M. freestyle in 30.42 and the 100 M. freestyle in 1:06.75.
First-year Allison Stansberry (Nashville, Tenn./Christ Presbyterian), sophomore Catie Gumpman (Lynchburg, Va./Heritage) and senior Jennifer Milby (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) also brought home individual wins for Sweet Briar. Stansberry captured first in the 200 M. butterfly (3:01.68), while Gumpman was the fastest in the 800 M. freestyle with a time of 11:45.48. Milby put forth the best time in the 200 M. individual medley, coming home in 2:52.04.
Sweet Briar kick started the meet with a win in the 400 M. medley relay. Vixens Samantha Benito ’11 (Germany/Ramstein American), Jessica Johnson ’09 (Woolwine, Va./Patrick County), Tori Marshall ’10 (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and Hannah Hesser ’10 (Richmond, Va./Trinity Episcopal) teamed for the win. The four finished in 5:17.19.
Sweet Briar is back in action at home Dec. 1. The Vixens take on Guilford College and King College at 2 p.m.
Overall: 5-1
ODAC: 2-1
Meet Results
