By Melissa Wallace '11

NJAC release

Pittman, NJ ... Junior Margaret Molloy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) and freshman Kayleigh Shangle (Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park), members of The College of New Jersey women's swimming and diving team, have been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer & Rookie of the Year respectively for the 2009-2010 season. All NJAC special awards were determined by a vote of the league's five head coaches, while the league all-conference selections were based on performances at the Metropolitan Conference Championships held at Rutgers University on February 19-21. 

Molloy claimed her NJAC honors as the top finisher during the Met Championships in the 200 freestyle (1:52.76), the 500 freestyle (4:59.75), and the 1650 freestyle (17:14:13). She also earned NCAA automatic qualifying times in two events. In addition, she was a member of three NJAC Champion relay teams with top conference finishes in the 400 medley (3:53.94), the 400 freestyle (3:30.17) and the 800 freestyle relays (7:49.88).

Shangle claimed NJAC championships as the top conference finisher in both the 50 freestyle (24.08) and the 100 breastroke (1:04.25). Her posting in the 100 breastroke was an NCAA automatic qualifying time and broke both team and meet records. Shangle has been named Second Team All-Conference for her finish in the 100 freestyle (53.28), behind teammate sophomore Laura Pierce (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West). In addition, she was a member of three NJAC champion relays with top conference finishes in the 200 freestyle (1:35.18), the 400 freestyle (3:30.17), the 200 medley (1:46.48), and the 400 medley relays (3:53.94).

TCNJ's head coach Jennifer Harnett was selected as the 2009-2010 NJAC Women's Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year by her peers. In addition to leading the Lions to the NJAC team championship with a perfect 4-0 record in conference dual-meet competition, she also led TCNJ to their third consecutive Metropolitan Conference Championship title. For her team's performance at the Met Championships, Harnett was recognized as the Met Women's Coach of the Year for the third straight season.

In addition to Molloy and Shangle, numerous other TCNJ swimmers garnered NJAC All-Conference Team honors. Pierce was the top conference finisher in both the 100 freestyle (52.16) and 100 butterfly (56.05), winning both those events at the Met Championships and producing NCAA automatic qualifying times. Pierce was also a member of the top conference finishing 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 200 medley, and 400 medley relays.

Sophomore Traci Hofer (Millville, NJ/Millville) earned top NJAC finisher recognition in the 100 backstroke (1:00.39) and was also a member of the top finishing 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays. Senior Christina Falcone (Newtown, PA/Notre Dame) garnered NJAC All-Conference Team recognition for her top performance in the 200 butterfly (2:10.91). Junior Katie Morgan (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) also earned NJAC All-Conference Team recognition for her performance in the 200 breastroke (2:23.54), which was an NCAA provisional qualifying time.