GENEVA, Ohio - Villanova Swimming and Diving finished day three of the BIG EAST Championships with plenty of movement in the program's record book. The Wildcats saw numerous personal best times, seven medals earned and two school records reset as the women remain in the lead, now with 1031 points, while the men stay in fourth with 391 points.
Arabella Lee set the momentum for the Wildcats with a gold medal and a school record in the 100 Fly. She touched the wall in 53.13, breaking her own school record that she set at last year's conference meet. She was also able to earn bronze in the 100 Back with her time of 54.20.
Justin Nowicki brought home the second school record of the day with his time of 3:49.61 in the 400 IM, also winning a BIG EAST title in the process. His time was just two-hundredths of a second faster than the record set by
Nolan Danus at the 2024 BIG EAST Championships.
Silver and bronze where awarded to
Peri Gaguzis and
Meghan Tiernan in the 400 IM as they touched the wall at 4:16.28 and 4:18.79.
Cole Gorsuch earned the first BIG EAST win of his career, swimming to gold and a new personal best in the 100 Back with a time of 48.25.
The women's 400 Medley Relay bronze went to Lee,
Winnie Jalet,
Anna Farley and
Riley Kudlac, swimming 3:41.23.
Farley claimed fourth with a personal record of 53.65 in the 100 Fly, making her the second-fastest performer in Villanova history behind Lee. On the men's side,
Sam Randall also placed fourth in the 100 Fly with a personal best of 49.02.
Annie Honkamp swam 4:21.78 in the 400 IM giving her fifth overall.
Kudlac and
Amylia Higgins went fourth and fifth in the 200 Free touching the wall at 1:49.52 and 1:49.60, a personal best for Higgins. Jalet clocked in at 1:02.63 in the 100 Breast giving her fifth place.
For the fourth and final day of Championships, the events will be 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly and women's 3-meter along with the 400 Free Relay to wrap up the week. Prelims will begin at 10 a.m. for swimming and 1 p.m. for diving with finals set to start at 5:45 p.m. The 1650 Free will take place at 3 p.m. with the last heats coming during the evening's final.
