2019-20 Schedule and Results | 2019-20 Roster
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - First-year head coach Lauren Pallone knew what she was getting into when she took over the reins of the brand-new Albertus Magnus College women's swimming and diving team in the summer of 2018.
In its inaugural season, the Lady Falcons had nine meets on the schedule, including their first-ever home meet on November 2 at the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center Pool. The schedule also included a pair of in-state Invitational's at the University of Saint Joseph's (CT) and Wesleyan University, and concluded with their first trip to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship.
Albertus opened the season with a road setback against Saint Joseph's College of Maine, but Pallone's swimmers got their revenge later in the season at the GNAC Championship, defeating the Monks by a score of 305-287. Sophomore Megan Anderson (Levittown, N.Y.) opened her swimming career with three second-place finishes in the 500-yard breaststroke (38.47), 100-yard Breaststroke (1:23.66) and 200-yard Individual Medley (2:57.76). Fellow teammate Ellyn Diverniero (East Haven, Conn.) also made her mark with two first place finishes in the 1,000-yard freestyle (15:41.19) and the 200-yard medley relay (2:48.48).
Following the trip to Standish, Maine, the Falcons returned to Connecticut and took part in their first swimming invitational at the University of Saint Joseph's (CT). The meet consisted of USJ (CT), Elms College, Eastern Connecticut State University, Western New England University and Rhode Island College. The 200 yard and 400-yard relay team of Genesis Cora-Luquis (Meriden, Conn.), Crisbeth Castañeda (Guatemala City, Quatemale), Megan Anderson (Levittown, N.Y.) and Ellyn Diverniero (East Haven, Conn.) made a splash posting two six-place finishes behind times of 2:21.74 and 5:10.21, respectively.
The Falcons then kicked off the month of November with a pair of home meets, including the program's first home meet against Western Connecticut State University. Although Albertus dropped the contest with Colonials, there were some great swims, including Anderson who placed third overall in her first 1,000-yard freestyle (15:27.74).
SWIM | The @Albertus_Swim home meet vs. @WCSUSports is underway here in New Haven, CT!! Let's go Falcons!! #fearlessfalcons
— Albertus Falcons (@AMCAthletics) November 2, 2019
Six days later, Albertus hosted its second home meet at the Cosgrove Marcus Messar Athletic Center Pool against Elms College and USJ (CT). Anderson recorded another stellar performance in the water for the Falcons as the sophomore qualified for the New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving (NEISDA) Championships in the 50-yard breaststroke. She finished the event with a time of 37.92 seconds to claim second place.
Albertus then headed up to Plymouth, New Hampshire to face Plymouth State, where the Falcons picked up a 64 points behind a team-high 18 points from Castaneda.
The Falcons then concluded 2019 portion of its inaugural season at Wesleyan Univeristy as the Falcons took part in their first Connecticut Cup. This Invitational invited all Division III Colleges located in Connecticut to compete and this year it consisted of: U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, Wesleyan University, Western Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, University of Saint Joseph (CT), and of course Albertus.
Anderson solidified her spot at Regionals with an "A" cut in her 50 breaststroke, while Kiara Pabon (Hamden, Conn.) swam personal bests. Freshman Arle Cruceta (Salcedo, Dominican Republic) dropped huge amounts of time to be the true stand out of the group at this competition.
Albertus wrapped up the regular season portion of the schedule with dual meet against Regis (Mass.) College followed by a tri-meet against Western CT. State and Rhode Island College in mid-January. At Regis (Mass.), Anderson recorded her season-best time in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 15:27.54, while Cruceta recorded a personal best in the 200-yard freestyle behind a time of 4:15.92.
The Falcons concluded the season earning its first program win over Rhode Island College as the Falcons split in a tri-meet at Western CT State. The Falcons suffered a 127-77 loss to the Colonials, but bounced back to earn the huge win over the Anchormen. Midyear newcomers Elizabeth Sherry (Mechanicsville, Va.) and Ana Lucia Gutierrez Gomez (Hermosillo, Mexico) shined in the tri-meet for the Falcons as the duo by qualified for the NEISDA Championships in February.
After a long season, the Falcons were set to compete at the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championships. They were selected to finished ninth in the GNAC's Coaches' Poll prior to the three-day event. Overall, the Lady Falcons set a slew of school records (20), personal-bests (20), and team-relay bests (4). After the final day, the Falcons finished the competition with an eighth place finish behind 305 points, just 31 points shy of seventh-place Elms College.
Good luck to the @AMC_SwimDive team!! The Lady Falcons are competing in their first @TheGNAC Swimming & Diving Championship this weekend in Boston, Mass.!! #fearlessfalcons #thisisFalconawesome
— Albertus Falcons (@AMCAthletics) January 31, 2020
Following their success in the GNAC tournament, members of the women's swimming & diving team - Anderson, Sherry, Castaneda and Gomez - took part in the NEISDA Championships, in what was their final competition of the 2019-20 season. Albertus scored 173 points total, finishing in 18th place out of 21. They also set six personal-bests and five school records at the tournament. Gomez was awarded All New England team for her third place finish in the 100 yard freestyle. Arle Cruceta was awarded the All New England Sportsmanship Award.
NEISDA FINALS: 100 Free - Gomez setting a #NewSchoolRecord and having a #Podium 3rd place finish earning 27 points for your #FearlessFalcons #RecordSettingFalcons
— Albertus Swimming & Diving (@AMC_SwimDive) February 16, 2020
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Megan Anderson:
- Two top-10 individual finishes at GNAC's.
- One top-20 individual finish at GNAC's.
- Four top-10 finishes on relay teams.
- Scored 37 points at GNAC's.
- Qualified for postseason meet in the 50 and 100 breaststroke.
- Competed on two relay scoring teams at NEISDA's.
- Three top-20 individual finishes at GNAC's.
- Four top-10 finishes on relay teams.
- Scored 23 points at GNAC's.
- Competed on two relay scoring teams at NEISDA's.
- Two top-20 individual finishes at GNAC's.
- Scored eight points at GNAC's.
- Three top-10 individual finishes at GNAC's including 2nd, 3rd, and 8th places, respectively.
- Scored 59 points at GNAC's.
- Four top-10 finishes on relay teams.
- Qualified for six individual events for NEISDA's.
- Three top-10 finishes at NEISDA's including 3rd 5th, and 7th place, respectively.
- Scored 75 individual points at NEISDA's.
- Competed on four relay teams at NEISDA's.
- Competed on two scoring relay teams at NEISDA's.
- Awarded All-New England team for third place finish in 100 yard freestyle.
- Two top-20 individual finishes at GNAC's.
- Scored eight individual points at GNAC's.
- Had a four minute drop in her mile freestyle in back-to-back meets.
- Had a 51 second drop in her 200 freestyle throughout the season.
- Three top-10 finishes at GNAC's.
- Scored 48 points at GNAC's.
- Competed on four scoring relay teams at GNAC's.
- Qualified for six individual events for NEISDA's.
- One top-10 finish at NEISDA's in the 100 yard backstroke.
- One top-10 finish at NEISDA's in the 100 yard freestyle.
- Scored 29 individual points at NEISDA's.
- Competed on two scoring relays at NEISDA's.
ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENT
In addition to their heroic exploits in the water, the Falcon swimming and diving team also performed admirably in the classroom, receiving three different national recognitions and a school recognition for their academic prowess.
For their hard work in the fall semester of 2019, the Falcons were named to the Fall 2019 College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American Team, with a cumulative team grade point average of 3.17 and five of their seven swimmers earning Dean's List honors at Albertus Magnus College.
The swimming and diving team also earned Team Scholar All-American honors for the Fall 2019 semester, one of only eight Division III teams in the country to do so. In addition, the Falcons placed four of their swimmers on the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) All-Academic Team for the Fall 2019 semester.
Following its inaugural season, Pallone and her squad were recognized by the CSCAA for their hard work in the classroom during the 2020 spring semester. The Falcons recorded a team GPA of 3.56 and was one of 461 schools to receive the award.
Out of the pool, four swimmers earned a spot on the Fall 2019 Dean's List. Anderson, Castaneda, Garcia and Streeto all garnered this academic distinction by achieving a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher during an academic semester or a grade-point average with no grade below a B during the semester (STORY).
