Swimming And Diving Opens Season At University of New England

BIDDEFORD, Maine - The Regis (Mass.) men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened the season Saturday with a dual match at the University of New England with the men's team dominating the Nor'easters 149-48 but the women's side, despite four first-place finishes from Jessica Higgins (Peabody, Mass.) came up short to UNE 157-104.

The men's competition featured several stellar Pride performances. Nick Rainville (Reading, Mass.) won four races which included pool records in the 100 free (50.17) and 50 fly (24.54). He also delivered first-place finishes in the 50 free (22.83) and the 200 medley relay (1:48.58) with teammates Connor Schwarze (Melrose, Mass.), Joshua Unas (Santa Clarita, Calif.) and Lawrence Reynolds (Hyde Park, Mass.).

Unas had a day of his own with three top finishes. In addition to his 200 medley relay win, he came out on top in the 100 fly (59.21) and 100 breastroke (1:07.89). Schwarze added a pair of runner-up finishes in the 50 free and 50 back.

On the women's side, Higgins had an outstanding afternoon despite the Pride's loss. She won the 200 free (2:11.16), both the 100 free (59.34) and 100 individual medley (1:08.35) both by just over one second, and the 200 free relay (1:50.45) with teammates Ashlyn DeRoche (North Reading, Mass.), Ryan Moran (Arlington, Mass.) and Jessica Zernitsky (Newton, Mass.).

Zernitsky delivered several impressive performances as well. In addition to her 200 free relay win, she finished first in the 50 free (27.27) by only two-tenths of a second and had a runner-up finish in the 200 medley relay (2:04.40) with DeRoche, Sarah Leonard (Brockton, Mass.) and Katherine Mariano (Newton, Mass.).

Both teams return to action next Saturday, Oct. 21 at the CCC Invitational. Races begin at 11:00 a.m.

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