November 30, 1998

Traveling to New Haven, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 28, the Villanova women's swimming and diving team won its fourth straight meet, by defeating Yale and Syracuse. The Wildcats posted a score of 715.50 followed by Syracuse (668.50) and Yale (595). The Villanova men, who tallied 172 points, were defeated by Yale (838.50), Syracuse (734) and Columbia (334.50).

Leading the Wildcats once again was freshman Maddy Crippen who kept up her tremendous rookie campaign by tallying four more individual victories. Crippen won the 100 yard breaststroke (1:06.26), the 200 yard breaststroke (2:06.23), the 500 yard freestyle (4:55.40) and the 200 yard individual medley (2:06.68). Villanova was also led on the day by sophomore Kristen Olson. A three-time Big East champion as a freshman in 1998, Olson swam to victory in three events: the 50 yard freestyle (24.10), the 100 yard freestyle (53.10) and the 200 yard freestyle (1:52.84).

In addition to Crippen and Olson, four more Wildcats also posted individual wins at Yale. Sophomore Katie Armitage won the 1,000 yard freestyle (10:12.55), junior Julie Lapinsky won the 100 yard backstroke and senior Elizabeth Lauwaert and sophomore Danielle Macejka swam to a first place tie in the 100 yard butterfly (58.94). In relay competition, the Villanova 200 and 400 yard relay freestyle teams each took home first place.

On the men's side, sophomore Tom Dion swam to a fifth place finish in the 500 yard freestyle (4:47.59). Taking a victory on the diving front for the Villanova men was sophomore Brian Mulligan, who won the one-meter dive (403.20).

The Wildcats will resume action on Dec. 3-5, when the women travel to Austin, Texas, for the Texas Invitational and the men travel to Happy Valley for the Penn State Invitational.