Meet results

Hoboken, NJ …In what will go down as one of the most exciting finishes in Division III swimming and diving during the 2011-2012 season, The College of New Jersey women defeated Stevens Institute of Technology 133-129 on Sunday afternoon in Hoboken, NJ.

The meet came down to a winner-take-all final event as the 10^th-ranked Lions (8-2) edged the 11^th-ranked Ducks by just under .5 seconds in the 400-yard freestyle relay race. Senior Melissa Hessler (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra), junior Caroline Kelly (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence), junior Kayleigh Shangle (Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park), and senior Laura Pierce (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) produced the winning time of 3:35.39. Stevens touched the wall in 3:35.88.
 
TCNJ won six individual events outright, but needed every point registered by their swimmers to capture its biggest victory in their final dual meet of the season. The triumph comes just one day after winning their fourth consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference championship.
 
Pierce and Shangle spearheaded the effort for TCNJ, winning a pair of individual events each to go along with the final relay win. Pierce posted first-place finishes in the 50-free (24.43) and 100-butterfly (57.42). Shangle was dominant in the breaststroke events winning the 100- in 1:06.77 and 200- in 2:25.90.
 
Hessler won the first individual event of the afternoon, winning the 1000-free in 10:52.64. Freshman Brennah Ross (Paoli, PA/Cyber Charter School) then produced one of the most important wins of her young career claiming the 200-fly in 2:11.12
 
The lead changed hands throughout the meet as both teams traded punches. Sophomore Hailey Growney (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) had a pair of essential second-place finishes in the 100- and 200-backstroke events. Senior Traci Hofer (Millville, NJ/Millville) placed second in the 100-free and third in the 100-fly, while classmate Kelsey Herchenrider (Cape May, NJ/Cape May Regional) finished third in the 100-breast.
 
Freshman Nicole Muha (Dunellen, NJ/Dunellen) registered a pair of third-place finishes in the breaststroke events, while senior Danielle Morrone (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) placed third in the 200-fly.
 
TCNJ will remain idle until competing in the 2012 Metropolitan Championship held from February 17 – 19 at Rutgers University. The Lions are seeking their fifth consecutive MET title.