Feb. 1, 2002

VILLANOVA, PA. - In what was a tremendous display of heart and courage, Villanova senior swimmer Katie Sosnowski swam competitively in a meet on Friday, Feb. 1, versus St. John's at the Villanova Swim Center, marking her first competition since a near fatal car accident almost took her life on April 27, 1997. Sosnowski competed in three events on the night - the 200 yard medley relay, the 100 yard breaststroke and the 200 yard breaststroke. She helped her relay squad to a third place finish (1:57.55) in the 200 medley relay, and also placed seventh in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:17.03) and finished fifth out of six competitors in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:44.22).

The story of Sosnowski is a testament to the human spirit. In the spring of 1997, she had just wrapped up a sophomore season that saw her earn Big East Championship finals appearances in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke events and qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 200 breaststroke. She even had hopes and dreams of competing in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Then came April 27, 1997. Sosnowski was in a severe motor vehicle accident from which she sustained massive head injuries as well as brain damage. Doctors did not think she would live let alone swim again. But Sosnowski has beaten all the odds. She is back at Villanova, back in the swimming pool, and thanks to permission by the NCAA - able to compete in one final competitive meet as the Wildcats took on St. John's tonight in the team's final home meet of the 2001-2002 season.

Villanova won the meet on the women's side, defeating St. John's by the score of 165-84. The Wildcat men fell to the Red Storm by the score of 145-97.

In other meet action, Villanova junior Maddy Crippen set a new pool record in the 1,000 yard freestyle crossing the finish line in a time of 10:00.52. In addition to winning the 1,000 free, Crippen also took the 200 yard breaststroke in 2:19.68.

Other Wildcat winners in women's competition were Becky Koch in the 200 freestyle (1:52.76), 500 freestyle (5:00.15) and 100 fly (58.58), Tori Delollo in the 100 backstroke (59.15) and 200 backstroke (2:06.00), Brooke Corby in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.56), Nichole Werger in the 50 freestyle (24.67) and 100 freestyle (54.06), and Ashley Ellis in the 200 fly (2:08.60).

In men's competition, Adam Walchak won the 200 fly (1:56.66) and Jared Rummel finished first in the 200 individual medley (2:02.10).