The #23 Middlebury women's swimming and diving team placed fifth at the four-day NESCAC Championship. Williams claimed its 21st title with 1,831 points, edging out Tufts by just 29.5 points. Amherst rounded out the top-three with 1,117 points, while the Panthers had 996 points.
 
Anna McGrew broke the school record in the 100-yard freestyle, recording a time of 50.89 seconds. The previous clocking of 51.01 seconds was set back in 2009.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Leading off the night session was Chloe Katz and Molly Nordquist in the 1,650 free. Katz finished in fourth place with an NCAA 'B' cut time of 17:01.34, while Nordquist was 16th in 17:54.25.
• Isabel Pentony clocked in at 2:03.95 to place seventh in the 200 backstroke. Maddy Reid competed in the consolation final, finishing in 15th with a time of 2:07.44.
• McGrew's blistering NCAA 'B' cut time of 50.89 seconds earned her runner-up honors in the 100 free. Avery Maxwell touched the wall in 53.01 seconds to grab 14th place.
• The 200 breaststroke featured a quick championship final with the top-five performers securing NCAA 'B' cut times. Emma Hall finished in sixth place with a clocking of 2:21.69.
• Chloe Bautista competed in the consolation finals of the 200 butterfly, touching the wall with a time of 2:07.93 to place 14th.
• Closing out the meet was the 400 free relay quartet of McGrew, Lauren Jolley, Katz and Maxwell. The squad combined for a time of 3:29.76 which was good for fifth place. 

NOTES

• The NESCAC gives out awards to the career-high point swimmers. Katz finished fourth out of all seniors with 278 points. Williams' Sophia Verkleeren won the award with 375 points, while teammate Charlotte Wishnack was second (337 points) and Jillian Cudney of Tufts was third (305 points).

Middlebury plays host for the men's championship beginning on Thursday in the natatorium, while the women await their NCAA Championship fate when the field is announced on Wednesday, February 26.