SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 24, 2026) – The Golden Bears hosted the Owls of Westfield State University for Senior Day. After celebrating seniors Ella Smith and Cailtin Guntly, the team had one of the best meets of the season, highlighted by 16 best times and 2 records. The Golden Bears won 11 of the 14 events to walk away with a 158-103 victory, their first over the Owls in the matchup's history.
Results:
Western New England: 158
Westfield State University: 103
How it Happened:
200 Yard Medley Relay:

• The Golden Bears relay team of Caitlin Guntly, Ella Smith, Alex Watroba, and Olivia Young won the opening relay with a time of 1:58.09 to claim 11 points.

1000 Yard Freestyle:

• Olivia Emanuele placed second in the 1,000 free with a season-best time of 12:41.25 to claim four points.
• Sofia Piantedosi placed third, scored three points, and finished with a time of 14:17.72.

200 Yard Freestyle:

• Ella Smith won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:00.19, earning nine points for WNE.
• Alex Watroba placed second for the Golden Bears with a time of 2:10.04, earning four more points for WNE.

50 Yard Backstroke:

• Bella Giard won the 50 Backstroke with a time of 31.41, earning nine points.

50 Yard Breaststroke:

• WNE grabbed first and second in the 50 Breaststroke. Vicky Stepien placed first with a season-best time of 37.50. Stepien earned nine points.
• Bianca Robinson placed second with a season-best time of 40.57. Robinson earned four points.

100 Yard Butterfly:

• Caitlin Guntly won the 100 Butterfly with a season-best time of 1:03.68.
• Olivia Emanuele placed third in the 100 Butterfly with a season-best time of 1:11.38, earning three points.

50 Yard Freestyle:

• Olivia Young placed second with a season-best time of 27.12, earning four points.
• Bella Giard got third with a time of 28.47. That place was good for three points.

100 Yard Freestyle:

• Caitlin Guntly won another race, the 100-yard Freestyle. Guntly placed first with a season-best time of 58.32, earning nine points.
• Olivia Young placed third in the event with a time of 1:02.30, earning the team 3 points.

100 Yard Backstroke:

• Bella Giard and Molly Butler got first and second in the 100 Backstroke. Giard placed first with a time of 1:10.09, earning nine points.
• Butler placed second with a season-best time of 1:12.21, which earned Butler four points.

100 Yard Breaststroke:

• Ella Smith and Vicky Stepien went one, two in the 100 Breaststroke. Smith earned a new program record with a time of 1:09.38. That earned Smith nine points.
• Stepien swam a season-best time of 1:23.00, which saw Stepien take second place and four more points.

500 Yard Freestyle:

• Alex Watroba continued a great meet with a first-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle. Watroba finished with a season-best time of 5:48.23 to earn nine points.
• Olivia Emanuele placed third, with a time of 6:17.51. That earned the team three points.

50 Yard Butterfly:

• Caitlin Guntly won her third individual event with a time of 28.57. Guntly earned nine points with the win.

100 Yard IM:

• Ella Smith broke another team record in the 100 IM as she went a season-best time of 1:01.75 in the 100 IM, won the event, and earned nine points.
• Alex Watroba placed third with a season-best time of 1:08.78, earning three points for the team.

200 Yard Freestyle Relay:

• WNE placed second in the final relay. The team of Bella Giard, Olivia Emanuele, Molly Butler, and Vicky Stepien swam a time of 1:56.47 and earned four points for the team.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will take on the LEC Championships next on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 13, 14, and 15. That meet will be held at the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Massachusetts.