Tartans Open with Dual Meet Win at Case Western Reserve

(CLEVELAND, Ohio) - The Carnegie Mellon University women's swimming and diving team opened the season in a dual meet at Case Western Reserve University, winning 161.5-138.5.

Freshman Kellen Gibson (Kirkland, Wash. / Holy Names Academy), junior Taylor Brown (San Antonio, Texas / Johnson), and freshman Kierstyn Cassidy (Waynesville, Ohio / Waynesville) swept the 1,000-yard freestyle with Gibson touching first in 10:53.80. In the 500-yard freestyle, Brown led a sweep touching first in 5:19.26. Cassidy was second and sophomore Megan Christy (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Allegheny) finishing third.

Freshman Stephanie Erickson (Voorheesville, N.Y. / Clayton A. Bouton) earned the win in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:58.96 with Christy right behind her in 1:59.34.

Sophomore Maddie Mianzo (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Allegheny) placed first in the 1-meter diving event with 263.25 points and the 3-meter diving event with238.05 points. Junior Megan Roche (Potomac, Md. / Winston Churchill) finished second in both diving events with 213.38 points and 216.00 points, respectively.

The 200-yard backstroke was won by sophomore Jessica Chau (Ridgewood, N.J. / Ridgewood) in 2:07.4 with junior Victoria Feng (Hopkinton, Mass. / Hopkinton) winning the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:27.89.

In the last individual event of the day, junior Emma Nicklas-Morris (Winston-Salem, N.C. / RJ Reynolds) outtouched Chau for the victory in the 400-yard IM in a time of 4:42.16. Chau touched in 4:42.81.

The Tartans will next compete against Washington and Lee University at home on Saturday, November 10 at 11:30 a.m.

Quoting head coach Matt Kinney
Thoughts on overall performance:
"While coming off a lot of injuries and illness, and missing some key people, the women responded well."

On things you thought carried you:
"The divers and distance swimmers really led the way today."