Nov. 11, 2001

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - On Saturday, Nov. 10 at Penn State University in University Park, Pa., the Villanova swimming & diving teams competed against the likes of Penn State, Bucknell and West Chester. The Wildcat women placed second on Saturday, while the Villanova men ended the meet in fourth place.

The Villanova women finished in second place with 720 points, 494.50 behind first place Penn State (1,214.50). Following the Wildcats were West Chester (656.50) and Bucknell (527). The Villanova men placed fourth with 366 points. Penn State finished first (1,399), followed by West Chester (761) and Bucknell (496).

Junior Maddy Crippen, sophomore Becky Koch and sophomore diver Amy Sfara were the top performers on the day for the Wildcat women. Crippen posted three first place finishes, winning the 200 yard butterfly (2:06.53), 400 yard individual medley (4:28.56) and the 1,650 yard freestyle (16:56.50).

Koch registered two first place finishes and two second place finishes in the meet. She placed first in the 500 yard freestyle (4:57.03) and the 200 yard freestyle (1:51.63), and second in the 200 yard butterfly (2:07.78) and the 100 yard butterfly (58.23).

In diving action, Sfara had an outstanding day for the `Cats. She finished second in the three-meter dive (218.20) and third in the one-meter dive (223.75).

In relay competition for the Villanova women, the Wildcat 400 yard freestyle relay team of Koch, Ashley Ellis, Victoria Delollo and Nichole Werger placed first in 3:34.04).

For the Villanova men, junior Justin Buland put together a tremendous meet. He placed second in both the 100 breaststroke (1:00.51) and the 200 yard breaststroke (2:13.86). He also helped lead the Wildcats 200 yard medley relay team to a third place finish.

Villanova will get back into action on Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, with the women swimming in the U.S. Open Swimming in Long Island, N.Y., and the men competing at Virginia.

Top Villanova Individual Finishes

Maddy Crippen
1st, 200 fly, 2:06.53
1st, 400 IM, 4:28.56
1st, 1,650 free, 16:56.50


Rebecca Koch
1st, 500 free, 4:57.03
2nd, 200 fly, 2:07.78
1st, 200 free, 1:51.63
2nd, 100 fly, 58.23


Victoria DeLollo
2nd, 500 free, 5:03.91
3rd, 200 free, 1:55.38
3rd, 100 back, 59.43


Ashley Ellis
2nd, 400 IM, 4:38.79


Michelle Diago
3rd, 1,650 free, 17:39.30


Justin Buland
2nd, 100 breast, 1:00.51
2nd, 200 breast, 2:13.86


Top Villanova Relay Finishes

200 medley relay
3rd, 1:39.21, (Buland, Pizzo, Harbuck, Walchak)

400 free relay
1st, 3:34.04, (Koch, Ellis, Delollo, Werger)


Top Villanova Diving Finishes

Amy Sfara
3rd, One-Meter, 223.75
2nd, Three-Meter, 218.20