PITTSBURGH, PA. - On Jan. 18-19, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the Villanova men and women's swimming & diving teams competed against the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Maryland. The Wildcat men were swept by the two teams, losing 285.5-60.5 to the 18th ranked Panthers and 233-101 to the Terps. The Villanova women defeated Big East rival Pittsburgh by a 182-169 margin, but fell to Maryland by the score of 203-149.

Three Wildcats took home victories on Friday for the Villanova women's team. Junior Maddy Crippen was the big winner, taking home victories in the 1,650 yard freestyle (16:37.64), the 400 yard individual medley (4:23.38), and the 500 yard freestyle (4:57.75), as well as finishing second in the 200 yard butterfly (2:05.31). Other first place finishers included freshman Tori Delollo in the 100 yard backstroke (58.48) and the 200 yard backstroke (2:04.37), and senior Brooke Corby in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:22.71). Delollo also placed third in the 200 free (1:56.25), while Corby was second in the 200 yard IM (2:11.28) and 100 yard breaststroke (1:06.06).

Other top finishers for the Wildcat women included sophomore Becky Koch who finished second in the 100 yard butterfly (57.05) as well as in the 100 yard freestyle (52.66) and the 50 yard freestyle (24.31), junior Ashley Ellis who placed third in the 400 yard individual medley (4:36.10), and freshman Charysse Johnston who was third in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:26.78).

In women's relay competition, the Wildcats 200 yard medley relay team of Delollo, Corby, Ellis and Nichole Werger placed third with a time of 1:49.11. In addition, Villanova's 400 yard medley relay team of Delollo, Crippen, Koch, and Werger finished second in 3:55.16.

In women's diving competition, Julie Rhines (244.95) and Amy Sfara (216.50) placed sixth and seventh respectively in the one meter dive. Rhines (210.40) and Sfara (185.60) also placed fifth and seventh respectively in the three-meter dive.

The top finisher for the Villanova men on Friday was junior Peter Klimas who finished third in the 100 yard freestyle (46.86), tied for third in the 50 yard freestyle (21.55) and fifth in the 200 yard freestyle (1:45.67). In addition, junior Adam Walchak placed fifth in the 100 yard butterfly (52.11), junior Justin Buland placed third in the 100 yard breaststroke (59.09) and fourth in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:10.62), and Bryan Rivera was fifth in the 500 yard freestyle (4:49.91).

In men's relay competition, the Wildcat 200 yard freestyle relay squad of Klimas, Andrew Harbuck, Jared Rummel and Walchak finished third with a time of 1:27.14. Also, the Villanova 400 yard freestyle relay team of Walchak, Klimas, Rummel and Rivera was third in 3:13.80.

Villanova will get back into action on Saturday, Jan. 26, traveling to South Bend, Ind., to take on the University of Notre Dame at 4:00 p.m.