Cambridge, MA - Records shattered abound on day three of the 2015 NEC Swimming and Diving Championships as three NEC records were rewritten. Central Connecticut and Wagner battled neck and neck to set up a final showdown tomorrow for the NEC title.

Wagner’s Amanda Lucia (Easthampton, MA/Easthampton) broke the NEC record in the morning prelims of the 400 IM, but wasn’t finished breaking the 400 IM NEC record. Lucia saved her best for the finals, breaking the NEC record once again in dominating fashion, clocking in with a time of 4:21.62. Bryant’s Lauren Doerrman (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) made a strong push midway through to claim the silver medal with a time of 4:24.40. Central Connecticut’s Stephanie Czulewicz (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) followed with a time of 4:26.60 to round out the podium for the first event of the night.

If some is good, more is better. Amanda Lucia (Easthampton, MA/Easthampton) returned to the top of the podium once again in the 100 fly, touching the wall first with a time of 55:04. 2014 NEC Champion Erin Regan (Ft. Washington, PA/Upper Dublin) of Mount St. Mary’s earned the silver, finishing with a time of 55.78.  Central Connecticut’s Sabree Thomas (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley) followed closely to earn the bronze with a time of 55.91.

In the 200 free, Christine Rasile (Branford, CT/Branford) of Central Connecticut took the lead from the starting blocks and never looked back, clocking in with a winning time of 1:49.79. Saint Francis U’s Katie Lafferty (Bremen, IN/Bremen) picked up the silver for the Red Flash, finishing at 1:51.70. Lauren Czulewicz (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) bookended the podium for the Blue Devils with a time of 1:52.25.

Maddy Garber (Milford, MA/Milford) broke the NEC record in the 100 breast at prelims and further indented her NEC mark in the finals. Garber smashed the record again in the finals with a time of 1:01.55 and qualified for the NCAA B cut. Bryant's Julia Messina (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) claimed the silver with a time of 1:03.62 and SFU's Catherine Rogers (Nokesville, VA/Seton School) followed to earn the third spot with a time of 1:03.70.

Wagner’s Anu Nihipali (Honolulu, HI/Hawaii Preparatory) defended her 100 back title, touching the wall first with a time of 53.79. Helene Neuhaus (Westport, CT/Staples) of Central Connecticut placed second with a time of 55.47. Fellow Seahawk Erin Malone (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) made her podium debut, claiming the bronze with a time of 56.93.

Central Connecitcut closed out the meet how it started, in NEC record breaking fashion. The Blue Devils 400 medley relay squad of Helene Neuhaus (Westport, CT/Staples), Maddy Garber (Milford, MA/Milford), Sabree Thomas (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley), and Christine Rasile (Branford, CT/Branford) closed out the night with a winning time of 3:44.30. Wagner’s relay team of Anu Nihipali (Honolulu, HI/Hawaii Preparatory), Katja Claesson (Fullerton, CA/Troy High School), Sam Sides (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East), Kristine Sullivan (Overland Park, KS/Notre Dame de Sion) claimed the silver with a time of 3:47.39. Bryant’s crew of Elisabeth Schauer (Pelham, NY/Pelham Memorial), Julia Messina (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy), Jamie Schaefer (Durham, NC/CE Jordan), and Mara Valenzuela (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) rounded out the podium, clocking in at 3:15.16.

The 2015 NEC Swimming and Diving Championships resume tomorrow at 11:00 am.

Team Rankings Through Day 3

Central Connecticut: 536
Wagner: 508
Bryant: 396
Saint Francis U: 303
Mount St. Mary’s: 194
Sacred Heart: 184
St. Francis Brooklyn: 109

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