February 26, 1999

After the first day of the Big East Conference Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday, February 25, at the Goodwill Games Aquatic Center in Uniondale, N.Y., the Villanova women stand in third place with 164 points behind Notre Dame (274) and Miami (185). The Wildcat men are currently in seventh place with 75 points.

Leading the Villanova women in the first day of competition was freshman Maddy Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa., Germantown Academy) who won her first career Big East Championship. Competing in the 500 yard freestyle, Crippen swam a time of 4:44.64 to finish nearly three seconds ahead of her closest competitor. Heading into the Big East Championships, she owned the eighth fastest time in the nation in the 500 yard freestyle (4:48.22). Crippen currently holds the nation's top time in the 400 yard individual medley (4:12.51).

Other Big East finalists for the Wildcat women included senior Elizabeth Lauwaert (23.21) and sophomore Kristen Olson (23.52) who finished third and fourth respectively in the 50 yard freestyle, sophomore Kate Volz who placed sixth in the 500 yard freestyle (4:56.01) and sophomore Katie Armitage who was eighth in the 200 yard individual medley (2:06.81). In relay competition, a contingent of Lauwaert, Olson, junior Tara Brock, and freshman Bethany Lavigno finished second in the 200 yard relay freestyle (1:33.57).

In men's competition, junior Vince Allegra was the team's top finisher, placing fifth in the 50 yard freestyle (20.92). Finishing fifth in the 200 yard freestyle relay was the Wildcat team of Allegra, fellow junior Brian Finucane, sophomore Duane Couture and freshman Dominic Latello (1:23.78). Contributing for the Villanova diving team was sophomore Brian Mulligan who ended the day in fifth place with a score of 437.95.

The Big East Championships will resume on Friday, February 26 and run through Saturday, February 27.