By Nafeesa Connolly
Staff Writer

Sharks Swimming and Diving finished their season with third place at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships on Sunday, Feb. 16, setting 11 records, and Head Coach Mindy Williams received Coach of the Year.

The Sharks headed to New England’s on Thursday, Feb. 13, and began racing on Valentine’s Day.

“I could tell, based on their excitement levels on Thursday night, that they were going to swim fast,” said Williams. That Saturday, the Sharks were in good shape at fourth place, just 23 points away from second.

“We knew exactly which teams we were going to have to chase down … Eastern Connecticut and Saint Michael’s,” said Williams. The Sharks beat out both teams by more than 20 points.

Simmons Athletics reported first-year Miriam Swisher set new records in the 100 Back, 50, 100, and 200 Free, while first-year Shylee Stewart also set records in the 50 and 100 Breast.

Other record setters included senior Jen Collins in the 100 Fly, first-years Hannah Plourde and Maggie Kirby in the 400 IM, and Collins, junior Chloe Davis, Swisher, and Stewart in the 400 Medley Relay by nine seconds.

Following the championships, Williams was named NEISDA Women’s Swim Coach of the Year after leading the Sharks to their tenth consecutive conference championship in Dec.

The Sharks say goodbye to seniors Collins, Davis, Colleen DuBois, Rachel Lagasse, and Rachael Mullen.

“I am so proud of our athletes,” said Williams.