SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 24, 2025) – The Golden Bears hosted the Corsairs on Friday evening for their Breast Cancer Awareness meet. The Golden Bears would roll to nine first-place finishes in the meet. Multiple season-best times were achieved in the meet, including a new program record from Ella Smith in the 500 Yard Freestyle. The Golden Bears swam to a 164-59 win against UMass-Dartmouth to start their dual-meet season.

Results:

• Western New England: 164
• UMass-Dartmouth:59

How it Happened:

200 Yard Medley Relay:

• WNE's team of Bella Giard, Ella Smith, Olivia Emanuele, and Caitlin Guntly won the race with a final time of 1:59.34.
• WNE's other relay team of Molly Butler, Vicky Stepien, Alex Watroba, and Olivia Young placed second with a time of 2:11.53.

1000 Yard Freestyle:

• Giada Caruso placed second in the race with a time of 13:43.03.
• Sofia Piantedosi placed third in the race with a time of 14:55.72.

200 Yard Freestyle:

• Caitlin Guntly won the race with a time of 2:09.67.
• Olivia Emanuele placed third in the race with a final time of 2:18.95.

50 Yard Backstroke:

• Ella Smith won the race with a final time of 28.75.
• Bella Giard placed second with a time of 31.44.
• Molly Butler placed third with a time of 33.25.

50 Yard Breaststroke:

• Alex Watroba placed second in the race with a time of 36.41.
• Vicky Stepien grabbed third place with a time of 37.58.

50 Yard Freestyle:

• Olivia Young won the 50 Free with a time of 27.43.
• Bella Giard placed third with a final time of 28.75.

100-Yard Freestyle:

• Caitlin Guntly swam a 59.23 to win the event.
• Olivia Young placed second in the event with a 1:03.18.
• Alex Boyd placed third for WNE, swimming a time of 1:14.42.

200 Yard Backstroke:

• The 200 Back saw Ella Smith place first with a time of 2:16.65.
• Bella Giard ended with a time of 3:01.78, placing second.
• Bianca Robinson got third place with a final time of 3:14.73.

200 Yard Breaststroke:

• Vicky Stepien placed second in the race and first for WNE with a final time of 3:06.44.
• Sofia Piantedosi swam a 3:26.32 in the race, placing third.

500 Yard Freestyle:

• Ella Smith broke another WNE Women's Swim Program record with a 5:28.46. That time also earned Smith first place in the event.
• Caitlin Guntly placed second in the race, with a time of 6:07.30.
• Olivia Emanuele placed third in the race with a time of 6:19.17.

50 Yard Butterfly:

• Alex Watroba won the race with a time of 30.20.
• Olivia Young placed third in the race with a time of 31.44.

100 Yard IM:

• Olivia Emanuele placed second with a season-best time of 1:15.92.

200 Yard Freestyle Relay:

• Alex Watroba, Vicky Stepien, Bianca Robinson, and Alexis Boyd won the relay race with a time of 2:03.01.
• Molly Butler, Sarah Morrissey, Ellery Palmer, and Sofia Piantedosi placed second in the race with a final time of 2:29.91.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will have a weekend of no meets next week before getting back in the water on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Wenham, Massachusetts. They will take on Gordon College and Westfield State University in their annual tri-meet.