WORCESTER, Mass. – Bentley University sophomore All-America Nicola Mancini (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth HS) captured both diving events, but the meet belonged to WPI with the Engineers prevailing 167-129 in women's college swimming at WPI Tuesday night. It was the opening dual meet of the season for both teams.
Mancini posted a winning score of 264.15 off the one-meter board and prevailed in the three-meter with a 274.95.
Bentley's other two victories in the meet included sophomore Meg Pernsteiner (Highland Heights, Ohio/Hawken School). She was the first to the wall in the 200 yard individual medley, touching in 2:21.46, and she was part of the Falcons' 200 medley relay that prevailed in the meet's opening event.
Pernsteiner combined with senior Heather Exley (Oceanside, Calif./Vista HS), sophomore Melissa Clauss (Oakland, N.J./Bergen County Academies) and freshman Kaitlin McGahie (Boylston/ Tahanto Reg. HS) for a time of 1:56.58.
Bentley had nine second-place finishes in the meet, including three involving McGahie. She was the runner-up in both the 50 free (25.58) and 100 free (56.15), and was also part of the Falcons' 400 free relay, along with Clauss and sophomores Kelly Culkin (Avon, Conn./Avon HS) and Lindsey Goodwin (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy).
Other seconds were posted by Culkin (1000 free, 11:33.45), Exley (100 breast, 1:12.06), Pernsteiner (200 back, 2:21.39), Exley (200 breast, 2:38.86), Clauss (100 fly, 1:02.58) and freshman Nicole Hellstern (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug HS) (200 free, 2:06.37).
Bentley's next meet is Saturday afternoon at Le Moyne College.
