POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 21, 2017) – The Vassar College women's swimming and diving team got huge contributions from its strong and talented freshmen class, starting the 2017-18 season with a resounding 169.5-110.5 victory over Brandeis University in action from Kresge Pool Saturday afternoon.

The Brewers started strong with great performance in the 200 yard medley relay, as freshmen Rhea Randhawa, Ellie Kennedy-wood and Brynn Lautenbacher teamed with junior Hayley Schultz to swim a 1:52.57 for the win. VC's "B" relay of Sarah Boese, Shannon Schrope, Kael Ragnini and Meg Harrington also picked up a third-place finish with a time of 1:59.89.

VC kept the wins going in the 1000 yard freestyle, as Angharad Healey chalked up a victory in her first distance swim as a Brewer, posting a run-away win with a time of 11:09.38 to put VC up 22-11. Vassar kept its lead in the 200 freestyle with a 2:04.69 victory from junior Kael Ragnini. Randhawa was back in the pool to pick up her first individual win for Vassar, taking the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:01.37. Boese also finished third for VC, finishing strong with a 1:07.54 keeping VC in the lead 44-27.

The wins continued to come for the Brewers thanks to Schultz, who helped VC post a 1-2 finish in the 100 breaststroke with Shannon Schrope. Schultz earned the win with a 1:09.34, followed by Schrope in second place with a time of 1:11.41, just out-touching Emily McGovern of Brandeis for the runner-up spot.

In the 200 butterfly, Vassar newcomer Brynn Lautenbacher picked up her first collegiate individual win, running away for the victory with a time of 2:17.58. Vassar also picked up the third-place spot in the race, as Kennedy-Wood booked a time of 2:27.14. The last race before the first break was the 50 freestyle, as Harrington was second with a 27:06.

After the intermission, Schultz chalked up a first-place finish in the 100 yard freestyle after posting a 58.06, over a second faster than her seed time. Harrington was third as well to put Vassar up 87-59 after earning a time of 59.22. Randhawa would extend Vassar's lead to 99-66 with another top spot finish, posting a time of 2:11.40 to earn the 200 backstroke. Boese picked up third in the event after posting a 2:21.56 for VC.

The Brewers continued to hold their lead after the 200 breaststroke thanks to a strong effort from Schrope, who earned her first collegiate win with a 2:34.98. The 500 freestyle helped Vassar extend its lead on the Judges, as the Brewers went 1-2 in the event thanks to Ragnini and Healey. The junior posted a time of 5:29.33, while Healey was right behind with a 5:30.10.

Vassar chalked up another 1-2 finish in the 100 butterfly, as Lautenbacher earned her second win of the day with a 1:00.93. Right behind her was fellow freshman Kennedy-Wood, who earned a 1:01.88 for second place. After the second diving break, Vassar was able to close out the meet with strong efforts from all three competitors in the 200 individual medley.

In the race, Randhawa added another victory to her tally with a win after swimming a 2:16.09, while Lautenbacher was right behind her with a 2:19.83. Senior Emily McDaniels was fifth for VC as well, earning points with a 2:29.40, pulling ahead 152.5-88.5 to pretty much seal the win for the Brewers.

In the final swim of the day, Vassar's "A" 400 freestyle relay earned the win, posting a 3:54.12 as Harrington, Schrope, Ragnini and Schultz teamed for the victory. VC's "B" relay finished third, thanks to the efforts of Cali Corbett, Abby Kirsch, Kennedy-Wood and Healey. In diving, senior Katie Nordstrom competed in her first collegiate diving event, finishing second in the 1m event with a point total of 83.90.

The Brewers will be back in action this upcoming Wednesday afternoon, taking on Liberty League foe Bard College at 6 p.m. in Kresge Pool.