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HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Lehigh women’s swimming and diving team commenced their Patriot League competition with a mixed outcome, achieving a decisive victory over Colgate with a score of 185-114, while narrowly falling to Loyola by a margin of 168-131 during a competitive meet held at the Lineberry Natatorium. As a result of these contests, Lehigh’s overall record now stands at an impressive 4-1, including a 1-1 mark in league play.
Lehigh showcased its prowess in the water by securing an impressive seven first-place finishes throughout the event. Notably, junior Mairin Ludwig continued to assert her dominance in the pool, triumphing in all three of her individual events. Ludwig’s standout performances included a commanding win in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:32.56, followed by another victory in the 500-yard freestyle clocking in at 5:07.61, and finally, she showcased her versatility by dominating the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:08.09.
Junior Willa Werwaiss had an equally remarkable showing, capturing first-place honors in both the 200-yard freestyle with a speedy time of 1:55.49 and the 200-yard backstroke, finishing in 2:02.41.
The diving team also continued to excel, with senior Sarah Gill achieving top honors in the one-meter dive, scoring an impressive 252.35 points. Meanwhile, first-year Kate Whitaker excelled in the three-meter dive, securing her own victory with a score of 243.45 points.
Junior Caitlin Deitch and first-year Clara Moschella made their mark by tying for a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly, both clocking in at 58.09 seconds.
Deitch, Moschella, and Werwaiss were integral members of the 400-yard medley relay team that clinched a second-place finish with a time of 3:54.13, alongside first-year Zoe Davies, who also secured a respectable second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing in 1:06.73.
Lehigh demonstrated its depth in the backstroke events, with junior Caitlin Hofmann earning a second-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:26.97, while first-year Clare Coughlin contributed with a strong second-place performance in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing at 59.88 seconds.
Looking ahead, Lehigh is set to take on Seton Hall in its highly anticipated home opener on Friday at 5 p.m., which will be held at Jacobs Pool.
H3. “Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships: A Competitive Opening for Lehigh”
*Interviewer:* We’re here with Mairin Ludwig, a standout swimmer from the Lehigh women’s swimming and diving team. Mairin, congratulations on the team’s performance at the Patriot League championships! Can you tell us how it felt to secure that decisive win against Colgate?
*Mairin Ludwig:* Thank you! It felt amazing to win against Colgate. We had a great team spirit and everyone really brought their A-game. It was motivating to see we could pull off such a strong victory, especially knowing how hard we all trained leading up to this competition.
*Interviewer:* That’s fantastic to hear. While you did have the win over Colgate, it was a tighter race against Loyola. What do you think made the difference in that meet?
*Mairin Ludwig:* Loyola definitely pushed us to our limits. They have a strong team and came ready to compete. a few seconds here or there can make such a difference in swimming. We’ve learned a lot from this experience, and we’ll take that knowledge into our next meets.
*Interviewer:* With seven first-place finishes by Lehigh, it’s clear the team performed well overall. What events are you most proud of from your performance?
*Mairin Ludwig:* I’m really proud of our team’s relay results and how we performed in the individual events. Personally, I had a great race in the 100 freestyle, where I placed first. Watching my teammates succeed in their races was equally uplifting.
*Interviewer:* As the championship progresses, what will you and the team focus on moving forward?
*Mairin Ludwig:* We’re focusing on our teamwork and refining our techniques in every possible area. We have some upcoming meets that are really important for our standings, so maintaining our motivation and good morale will be key as we head into those.
*Interviewer:* Sounds like a solid plan. Best of luck as the championship continues, Mairin!
*Mairin Ludwig:* Thank you so much! We appreciate the support!
