WINGATE, N.C. – The Catawba College women's swimming team delivered a record-breaking performance Friday afternoon, capturing a dual-meet victory over Wingate University while establishing two Conference Carolinas records and three Wingate Natatorium pool records.
The Catawba Indians opened the meet in impressive fashion as the 200-yard medley relay quartet of Eniko Onofer, Mahee Gory-Lauret, Sydney Peterson and Danila Sita touched the wall in 1:42.75, establishing both a Conference Carolinas record and a Wingate Natatorium pool record.
Fernanda Regina Pera Dos Santos continued her impressive start to the season, setting two individual pool records in the 200-yard and 100-yard freestyle events. The sophomore captured the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.36 before adding another first-place finish in the 100 freestyle, clocking a 50.95.
Catawba added another record-breaking performance in the 200-yard freestyle relay as Onofer, Sita, Eszti Pajor and Clara Campo de Paoli combined for a time of 1:33.82, establishing both a Conference Carolinas record and a Wingate Natatorium pool record. Onofer also achieved an NCAA Division II B-cut in the 50-yard freestyle while leading off the relay.
The Catawba Indians showcased their depth throughout the afternoon, sweeping the top two positions in several individual events.
Fiona Byrne led the way in the distance events, capturing first place in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:11.79, finishing under last season's NCAA Division II championship invitation time. Ella Gutenwik followed in second place with a time of 10:24.72.
Byrne and Gutenwik repeated their success in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing first and second with times of 5:02.99 and 5:05.51, respectively.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Makayla Bazeley joined Pera dos Santos in securing another 1-2 finish for Catawba, touching the wall in 1:54.51.
Gory-Lauret and Louise Jones added another sweep in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing first and second with times of 1:04.18 and 1:05.83, respectively. Jones later captured the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:21.67.
Pera dos Santos and Onofer continued the Indians' success in the 100-yard freestyle, taking the top two positions with times of 50.95 and 51.25, respectively. Jones and Pera dos Santos also earned NCAA Division II B-cuts in the 200-yard individual medley, finishing first and second with times of 2:04.72 and 2:05.04.
Sita added an individual victory in the 50-yard freestyle, recording a personal-best time of 23.60 while achieving an NCAA Division II B-cut. Linnea Puterbaugh also registered a personal best in the event, clocking a 24.31.
Peterson contributed another first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly, touching the wall in a personal-best 2:07.13. Pajor added a victory in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:01.48.
Catawba's depth was further displayed in the 200-yard freestyle relay, where the B relay team of Marleen Plachetka, Sophie Welborn, Maggie Cheves and Puterbaugh finished second in 1:35.84, ahead of both Wingate relay teams.
The record-setting afternoon highlighted a strong all-around effort for the Indians, who combined multiple NCAA qualifying performances, personal bests and relay records in their victory over the Bulldogs.
Catawba will return to action 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Davidson before following up with a home meet 11 a.m. Oct. 31 inside Johnson Pool.
