RIVERDALE, N.Y. - This season has been a struggle of consistency for the Manhattan Women's swim team, but this weekend ended with a come-from-behind effort to at least give a glimpse of hope in preparation for the MAAC Championships. The Jaspers dropped contests at Saint Peter's to both the Peahens (126-75) and Montclair State (123-89) on Friday before defeating King's Point at home 107-94 on Saturday.
Friday's meets began very rough for Manhattan as they would muster no better than a third place finish in each of the first five events. Finally, senior Bridget Latino would garner a second place finish in the 200 yard freestyle before earning yet another victory this season in the 100 yard butterfly with a 1:01.42 time. It would be one of only two event wins for the Jaspers with the other coming in the final contest of the meet. Kim Geissler, Molly Russel, Melanie Tam and Vanessa L'Heureux combined for a victory in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:47.55.
On Saturday, it seemed as if it would be déjà vu all over again for Manhattan College as they fell behind 24-10 after the first two events. Geissler then helped to close the early gap with a victory in the 200 yard free followed by teammate Kerry Schuermann to help the Jaspers take 13 of the 19 possible points in the event. That victory would begin a stretch of Manhattan winners in five of the next six events.
Vanessa L'Heureux would excite the fans at Riverdale Country School with a thrilling win the 50 yard free, edging out King's Point's Casey Moore by .29 seconds. Senior Bridget Latino would then continue her impressive season with a victory in the 200 yard Individual Medley before L'Heureux became a double-winner in the 100 yard freestyle in which Jasper teammates Geissler and Melanie Tam came in second and third respectively.
Latino then notched her second victory of the afternoon with a dominating 100 yard backstroke, finishing in 1:04.10 seconds, more than three and a half seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. King's Point would earn a few victories late in the meet to make the score Manhattan 94 and King's Point 92 going in to the final event, setting up a winner take all situation.
"We had key wins registered by Geissler, L'Heureux and of course Latino," said Head Coach Walter Olsewski. "It was a fantastic come-from-behind victory that we really needed."
In the 200 yard freestyle relay, the Jasper team of Tam, Jackie Mamary, Molly Russel and Geissler swam to a season best time of 1:47.73 and a Manhattan victory. The "B" team of MaryLynn McMahon, Alyssa Maccarone, Emily Kearns and Mary Kate O'Leary finished third to make the final score Manhattan 107-94.
The Jaspers (7-10) finished the weekend 1-2 and concluded the 2011 portion of their schedule. They will next be in action on Fri., Jan. 27 in the final home meet of the season against Saint Peter's at 6:30 p.m. at Riverdale Country School. It will be the final home meet in the careers of seniors Bridget Latino, and Mary Kate O'Leary.
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