The Northeastern Huskies (4-1) swim and dive team took part in the Tate Ramsden Invitational hosted by the Dartmouth College Big Green (3-5) and the University of Massachusetts Minuteman (4-4) at the Dartmouth College Karl Michael and Spaulding Pool Complex Jan. 16 and 17. Northeastern showcased rising talent as well as veteran leadership across both days of the competition.
The Huskies defeated the Minutemen (238-97) and fell to the Big Green (212-124), however, freshman Alex Fuller, senior Anna Verlander and graduate student Elisabeth Bendall all had standout performances.
The meet featured both men and women. However, the Huskies only have a women’s swim and dive team.
Freshman Abigail Gowern opened the meet with a strong third place finish (5:02.02) in the 500-yard freestyle. She was joined by freshman Siena Griffiths (5:04.88), who finished in fifth, freshman Eliana Auerbach (5:08.38), who took sixth and junior Bella Busconi (5:09.75), who took seventh.
Following the 500, freshman Alex Campion (2:07.84) pulled the Huskies to a fourth place finish in the 200-yard IM. Fellow freshmen Celia Traub (2:08.23) and Sophie Bromley took fifth(2:08.93) and sixth, respectively.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Fuller (23.50) sprinted to a runner-up finish, just behind Dartmouth’s junior Carinn Bethea. Senior Kotoko Blair (24.20) tied for seventh in the event.
In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the A-relay demonstrated the strength of the Huskies’ sprint group. The A-relay consisted of Fuller, Verlander, sophomore Kate Kerber and Blair, where they placed second (1:35.36).
Following the relay, Fuller took the first individual Husky win of the weekend, touching first in the 100-yard butterfly (54.97). She was joined by Kerber (57.40), who took sixth, and freshman Rory Keller (58.24), who took ninth. Sophomore Delaney Alonso (58.33) took 10th.
In the 400-yard individual medley, Gowern delivered a standout swim, finishing second (4:30.59). The team overall placed four swimmers in the top eight: The other three were Traub (4:37.62) in sixth, Campion (4:37.85) in seventh and Auerbach (4:38.04) in eighth.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Griffiths led Northeastern to a third place finish (1:54.46), and Blair took eighth (1:56.90), leaving two Huskies in the top eight.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Bendall (1:06.10) secured a third place finish for the Huskies, and Traub touched just behind her (1:06.16) in fourth, securing valuable points for the team.
In the 100-yard backstroke, the Huskies secured their second individual win of the weekend. Verlander (56.00) claimed the victory, and Alonso (56.96) took second. Bromley (56.97) took third, solidifying the 100-yard backstroke as the team’s strongest event of the meet.
The 200-yard medley relay continued the strong streak for the Huskies. The A-relay team, consisting of Alonso, Bendall, Fuller and Blair, finished in second (1:44.03).
The divers struggled in the 3-meter, with the only score being posted by senior Anelise Kim, who took eighth (215.20). In the 1-meter, Kim (242.70) took sixth and was joined by freshman Kailyn Aquino (217.85), who tied for ninth, and freshman Tyler Ostrom (176.80), who took 13th.
Back in the pool in the 1,650-yard freestyle, Gowern finished out a successful meet with a third place finish (17:12.05). She was followed closely by Griffiths in sixth (17:26.26) and Busconi in seventh (17:27.74).
In the 200-yard backstroke, Verlander earned her second individual win(2:02.19). She was joined in the top six by Bromley in third (2:03.26), Alonso in fourth (2:03.75), Keller in fifth (2:05.43) and senior Teagan Osga (2:05.88) in sixth.
In the 100-yard freestyle, another Husky had a repeat individual win, with Fuller taking first (50.74). Blair (52.82) touched in fourth behind her.
In the 200-yard breaststroke, freshman Marea Li led Northeastern to a third place finish (2:24.12). She was followed by Traub (2:25.59), who took fifth, and Auerbach (2:25.97), who took sixth. Bendall and Campion were also in the top 10 athletes in the event.
In the 200-yard butterfly, Kerber finished second (2:07.81). She was joined by Keller (2:09.31) in fifth and sophomore Peyton Knightly (2:09.87), who took sixth.
The final event of the weekend, the 400-yard freestyle relay featured a Northeastern win with the A-relay consisting of Fuller, Verlander, Griffiths and Blair taking first (3:28.51).
The Huskies will be back in action Jan. 24 when they host Stony Brook (3-3) for their Senior Day at Barletta Natatorium.
