<p>Kings Point, NY - The Women's Swimming and Diving team beat the Merchant Marine Academy for the twenty third time in a row. The rivalry started with the inception of the women's program in 1999-200 and the Bears have not lost a head-to-head match up since then. The women dominated the day winning every swimming event to a 187-101 score.</p> <p>Several women had exceptional days and won multiple events. Junior Ellie Hiestand had her best dual meet in her career, winning both the 100 and 200 breaststroke in career defining times. Her 100 time of 1:07.91 marked her first time under 1:08 this season in a dual meet. She was closely followed by fellow junior Tailyn Schaufelberger and senior Rylie Brick for the 1-2-3 sweep. Ellie eclipsed the field in the 200 yard event by nearly six seconds and a final time of 2:25.93, followed again by Brick for the 1-2 finish.</p> <p>Fellow junior Grace Keogh won three events herself. Keogh outpaced the field with a final time of 1:58.00 in the 200 freestyle, leading from wire to wire. Keogh kept her winning way going with a win in the 100 freestyle in 54.30. She closed out her day with a final win in the 100 butterfly in 59.03.</p> <p>First year Jaida Lippy was impressive in winning the distance freestyle events. She was able to negative split her races and come from behind to win both the 1000 yard free (season best 10:49.44) and 500 free (5:18.42) by wide margins. Fellow first year Madelyn Paxton won both the 100 and 200 backstrokes in 1:00.19 and 2:10.32, both in season best times. Paxton also won the 200 Individual Medley in 2:12.35 followed closely by first year Megan Doubrava who finished in 2:15.16. Doubrava won the 200 butterfly in 2:12.26 followed by classmate Tessa Breitbart for the 1-2 finish in that event.</p> <p>Not to be left out of the winning ways, senior captain Tamara Wheater won the 50 freestyle in 25.25. Wheater also chipped in on the 200 medley relay with her butterfly leg and Paxton, Schaufelberger and sophomore Masen Karsten providing the other legs in 1:51.54. The women finished the day with a win in the 400 freestyle relay team of Karsten, Hiestand, Schaufelberger and Keogh cruising to a final time of 3:42.76.</p> <p>The Bears will be back in action on Saturday January 20 against Montclair State at 12:00 pm in New London.</p>