NEW LONDON, N.H. - Saint Michael's College women's swimming & diving first-year Lindsay McNall (Colchester, Vt./Colchester) broke a pair of school records in her college debut on Saturday, as the Purple Knight men and women both downed Colby-Sawyer College during their season openers in Knight Natatorium.
The women earned their eighth straight win over the Chargers, 170-124, as the hosts slipped to 1-1 on the year. The Purple and Gold men claimed a 168-129 decision behind their sixth consecutive victory against Colby-Sawyer, which is 0-2.
McNall broke marks in the 50- and 100-yard butterfly races as part of a four-win day. Her time of 27.88 in the 50 fly trimmed Ellie Hedden's '06 nearly 10-year-old program record of 28.12, set on Feb. 21, 2004, while McNall clocked in at 1:01.81 in the 100 fly to eclipse Lindsay Burgess' '10 standard of 1:01.96, set on Feb. 16, 2007. Both Burgess and Hedden had achieved their records at the season-ending New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Championship, when competitors are typically at their peak for the season.
McNall also captured the 100-yard freestyle race while anchoring the victorious 200 free relay, joining senior Julie Mullowney (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) and juniors Kim Brady (Morris Township, N.J./Academy of Saint Elizabeth) and Steph Nadow (Charlton, Mass./Saint Peter-Marian).
Mullowney and Nadow also posted four wins, with Mullowney claiming the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke races, and Nadow winning the 50- and 100-yard backstroke events. The duo sided with Brady and first-year Katrina Wiesner (Bow, N.H./Bow) to top the 200-yard medley relay field. Sophomore Catherine Tierney (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) won twice, during the 500 and 1,000 free races, outdistancing the runner-up in the latter by 42.62 seconds.
In his college debut, first-year Cam Thirkell (Tyngsboro, Mass./Tyngsboro) played a role in three victories for the men, including winning the 50 and 100 fly races. During the 50 fly, he posted a time of 26.80 to edge out the runner-up by 0.29 seconds. Thirkell also joined junior Matt Pearson (Kennebunk, Maine/Kennebunk) and sophomores Nick Johns (Seaford, N.Y./Saint Anthony's) and Brandon MacPherson (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) to capture the 200 medley relay. Pearson added an individual triumph in the 100 breast, touching the wall in 1:07.40 to win by 0.43 ticks.
Junior Nathan Paluso (Windham, Maine/Windham) won the 500 and 1,000 free events, claiming victory during the 500 free in a time of 5:29.70 to narrowly eclipse sophomore Chad Phalon (Wantage, N.J./Pope John XXIII Regional), who was second in 5:30.96. Phalon was triumphant in the 200-yard individual medley, and first-year Seth Boudreau (Saint Albans, Vt./BFA-Saint Albans) won the 100 back in 1:01.57, winning by 0.34 seconds. Junior Joe Vo (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) won one of the one-meter diving events, and sophomore Joe Thomas (Norwood, Mass./Boston College HS) took the 200 free.
The Purple Knights return home to take on Clarkson University next Saturday at 1 p.m., the first of two home meets in four days at the Ross Sports Center.
