FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates College women's swimming and diving team matched its best performance ever at this weekend's New England Division III championships, placing sixth overall with 573 points. In recognition of his team's impressive performance, head coach Dana Mulholland was named New England Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. He previously earned the honor in 1991.
The Bobcats, who were 6-3 in dual meets this season, had three individual performers earn multiple All-New England honors.

First-year swimmer Jill Kopicki of Cranford, N.J., became the second woman in Bates history to win a New England championship when she captured the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:35.27, a new school record. Kopicki also earned All-New England status in two other events, placing third in both the 200-yard butterfly (2:11.17) and the 200 IM (2:12.64), the latter a Bates record. Kopicki also swam the anchor leg on two of three All-New England relays, the 200-yard medley relay (eighth place, 1:55.36) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (eighth place, 8:14.07).

First-year swimmer Megan Ferrari of Doylestown, Pa., also placed among the top eight in three events to garner All-New England accolades. The breaststroker placed third in the 50-yard breaststroke (31.83 seconds), fourth in the 200 (2:28.83) and eighth in the 100 (1:09.18), all school records. Ferrari also swam the breaststroke leg of Bates' 200- and 400-yard medley relay teams and led off the 800 free relay.

Kopicki, who met NCAA 'B' standards in all three All-New England performances, and Ferrari, who qualified in the 200 breaststroke, will learn Feb. 23 if they have been accepted to the field of the NCAA championship meet, held March 9-11 at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

Rounding out Bates' individual All-New England performances was junior Gudrun Mirick of Chaska, Minn. Mirick, who was All-New England in the 200-yard freestyle a year ago, added a sixth-place finish in the 50 free (25.14 seconds) and took eighth in both the 100 (54.74 seconds) and 200 (1:59.74, in trials). Mirick also swam the anchor leg in the fifth-place 400 yard medley relay team (4:06.89, a school record).

Also earning All-New England honors as members of the relay teams were sophomore Megan Simmons of Buffalo, N.Y., who swam the backstroke leg of the 200 and 400 medley relays; junior Pamela Murchie of Westbrook, Maine, who swam the butterfly on the medley relays; and first-year swimmer Maggie Parker of Montclair, N.J., and senior captain Megan Shelley of Potomac, Md., both of whom were members of the 800 freestyle relay.

Ferrari is a 1999 graduate of Central Bucks High School East. She is the daughter of William and Robin Ferrari, Doylestown, Pa.

Kopicki is a 1999 graduate of Cranford High School. She is the daughter of John and Mary Kopicki, Cranford, N.J.

Mirick is a 1997 graduate of Chaska High School. She is the daughter of James and Mary Mirick, Chaska, Minn.

Murchie is a 1997 graduate of Westbrook High School. She is the daughter of John and Patricia Murchie, Westbrook, Maine.

Parker is a 1999 graduate of Montclair Kimberly Academy. She is the daughter of Martin and Marilyn Parker, Montclair, N.J.

Simmons is a 1998 graduate of Kenmore West High School. She is the daughter of David and Pamela Simmons, Buffalo, N.Y.

Shelley is a 1996 gradaute of Washington Waldorf High School. She is the daughter of Herbert and Jerilyn Simmons, Potomac, Md.

Complete results are available at http://www.webcom.com/startkit/pj/results.html#newom00

For more information on Bates College swimming and diving, please visit our website at http://www.bates.edu/sports/swimming.html