at Brunswick, Maine
Men: Bates 160.5, Bowdoin 132.5
Women: Bates 186, Bowdoin 108

BRUNSWICK, Maine — With a sweep of in-state rivals Bowdoin today, the Bates College swimming and diving teams both won a CBB crown. Both teams had already defeated Colby at home. The men clinched their fifth CBB crown in the last six years with a tight 160.5-132.5 victory, while the women won their first since the 1997-98 season with an overpowering 186-108 decision.

Men: Bates 160.5, Bowdoin 132.5

Though the men won fewer than half of the meet's 16 events, the Bobcats' depth, especially from a senior class competing in its final dual meet, gave them the triumph. Bates took the top three spots in the 1,000-yard freestyle, led by first-year swimmer John Getchell (Cumberland, Maine) in first, while seniors Dan Heneghan (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and Nick Kuppens (Onset, Mass.) took second and third. Bates also took three of the top four spots in the 200-yard backstroke, with senior Andrew O'donnell (Leonia, N.J.) winning the event, rookie John Legault (Duxbury, Mass.) tying for second with a Polar Bear competitor, and Getchell takng fourth. The Bobcats picked up 25 points in the diving events as seniors Andrew Hastings (Weston, Mass.) and Nick Holquist (Hamden, Conn.) continued their fine season. The class of 2002 also shone in the 500 free, as Heneghan won the event, Kuppens placed third and Kenny Catalano (Lynn, Mass.) was fourth. Bates clinched the meet on the final relay of the day, as a diverse relay team of Todd Bretl '04 (Barrington, R.I.), Chris Guerrette '05 (Manchester, N.H.), captain Steve Imig '02 (Denver, Colo.) and Adam Bowden '03 (Cumberland, Maine) helped fend of the Polar Bears.

Women: Bates 186, Bowdoin 108

The Bates women cruised to the victory over the Polar Bears with 13 of 16 event victories for the third week in a row. First-year Nicole Sparks (New Canaan, Conn.) was the meet's top performer, picking up three wins in the freestyle sprints, winning the 50, the 100 and the 200. Bobcat specialists excelled again, as senior Megan Simmons (Buffalo, N.Y.) won the 100 and 200 back stroke, junior Megan Ferrari (Doylestown, Pa.) took the 100 and 200 breaststroke and first-year Kara Seaton (Wayne, Pa.) claimed the 1- and 3-meter diving events, missing the one-meter NCAA qualifying mark by a five-10ths of a point.

Combined results available here.

 #   #   #