SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 9, 2026) – WNE hosted RIC on Alumni Appreciation Day on Friday. The Golden Bears picked up right where they left off in 2025. They won 12 of 13 races they had swimmers in, saw multiple swimmers set best times, and rolled RIC by a score of 157-99. Ella Smith won all four races she entered. Caitlin Guntly matched that feat as well.
Results:
Western New England: 157
Rhode Island College: 99
How it Happened:
200 Yard Medley Relay:

• WNE's team of Bella Giard, Ella Smith, Caitlin Guntly, and Alex Watroba took first place with a time of 1:57.82 to open the meet.

1000 Yard Freestyle:

• Olivia Emanuele got right back in the water after swimming in the medley relay and won the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 13:07.76.

200 Yard Freestyle:

• Ella Smith continued the Golden Bear excellence with a 2:02.04 200 Free. Smith won the race with that time.
• Alexandra Watroba then placed second in the race with a 2:10.07.

100 Yard Backstroke:

• The 100 Backstroke saw the team take first, second, and third place. Caitlin Guntly led the charge with a 1:04.20 (first place), which is a best time on the season.
• Bella Giard followed in second, with a time of 1:09.13.
• Molly Butler placed third after that with a time of 1:13.52, a season-best time.

100-Yard Breaststroke:

• Vicky Stepien took second in the 100-Yard Breaststroke, with a 1:24.46, just off Stepien's best time.

200 Yard Butterfly:

• The Golden Bears did not have a swimmer in this event.

50 Yard Freestyle:

• Olivia Young took control of the 50 Free with a 27.38 and the win, right at Young's best time all season.
• Bella Giard followed Young with a second-place finish at 28.48.

100 Yard Freestyle:

• The Golden Bears went one, two, three, four in the eighth event of the day.
• Bella Giard won the event with a 1:02.42.
• Olivia Young placed second with a 1:03.56.
• Vicky Stepien placed third with a time of 1:05.31.

200 Yard Backstroke:

• Caitlin Guntly won the 200 Backstroke, with Alex Watroba placing second. Guntly earned a time of 2:21.84.
• Watroba swam a time of 2:26.85.

200 Yard Breaststroke:

• Ella Smith picked up another win for the Golden Bears in this event with a time of 2:32.28.

500 Yard Freestyle:

• Olivia Emanuele and Molly Butler grabbed the first two places in the 500. Emanuele swam a 6:14.54 to get first place.
• Butler swam a 6:47.37 in Butler's first time swimming the event to grab second place.

100 Yard Butterfly:

• Caitlin Guntly picked up another win in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:08.57. Guntly just missed a season-best time.

400 Yard IM:

• Ella Smith and Alex Watroba went one, two once again. Smith swam a time of 4:49.83, placing first.
• Watroba swam a time of 5:19.06, placing second.

800 Yard Freestyle Relay:

• WNE won the relay with the team of Olivia Young, Vicky Stepien, Bianca Robinson, and Olivia Emanuele getting a time of 9:37.64.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are back in the pool on Saturday, January 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM, when they participate in a quad meet versus Regis College, UMass-Dartmouth, and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut.