WAYNE, N.J. (DECEMBER 9, 2006) - Sophomore Michael O'Shea (Edgewater, N.J./Leonia) established a new school record and qualified for the NCAA Championships in the one-meter dive to highlight the William Paterson men's and women's swimming and diving meet against Division II Adelphi Dec. 9.

O'Shea posted a score of 283.80 to break Steve Brown's school-record total of 272.00 established in 1984.

Overall, the Pioneers earned a split with the Panthers as the women won, 163-73, and the men fell in a close meet, 104-125. Entering the 100 breaststroke, the two men's teams were separated by just one point (98-97).

Sophomore Grace McKay (Fairlawn, N.J./Fairlawn) had the top performance of the day for the women, edging Adelphi All-American Jerri Lester in the 100 backstroke by .09 second (1:03.19 to 1:03.28). Sophomore Cathy Hartwell (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) was victorious in the 50 (25.91) and 100 frees (56.32), senior Traci Dombrowski (Union, N.J./Union) was the winner of the 200 (2:08.58) and 500 (5:50.18) frees, and senior Colleen Takemoto (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) won the 100 fly (1:04.26). Junior Jessica Lyon (Pequannock, N.J./ Pequannock) won the 200 IM (2:24.68) and 100 breast (1:11.92), junior Jamie Hopper (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) was first in the one-meter dive (189.75) and freshman Giana Albruzzese (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) was the winner of the three-meter dive (156.75). McKay, Lyon, Takemoto and Hartwell touched first in the 200 medley relay (1:57.68), while McKay, Donivyn Schmidt (Mansfield, N.J./Warren Hills), Melanie Mejias (Union, N.J./Union) and Dombrowski were the winners of the 200 free relay (1:47.05).

"It was a total team effort by the women today, winning every race but one," said William Paterson head coach Ed Gurka. "Beyond the win, it was the second, third and fourth-place finishes that made the difference, and all were finishes that could have gone either way. Donivyn had her best college meet with personal bests in the 50, 100 and 200 frees, and Melanie had a big meet, also. It's great to win against a Division II team, and we are very pleased with the results."

In the race of the meet, sophomore David Caputo (Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis) touched the wall first with a personal-best time in the 1,000 free (10:35.37), edging Adelphi's Brendan Berry by .06 (10:35.43). Freshman Vojtech Karas (Brno, Czech Republic/Luduika Danka) earned the win in the 200 free (1:48.62), and O'Shea added a win in the three-meter dive (220.58) to his victory in the one-meter. The Pioneers' 200 free relay of Karas, Brian Fisher (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Twp.), Caputo and Joe Shirrman (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) was just edged out by the Panthers (1:31.03 to 1:31.19).

"We had our chances to win on the men's side," said Gurka. "We certainly swam well, and we're happy with the results."

The William Paterson men and women will train in the Antilles Dec. 26 - Jan. 4, and will return to competition Jan. 20 at Montclair State.