PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The William Paterson women's swimming and diving team finished second of 13 Division III schools (sixth overall) after the final day of competition at the Metropolitan Championships Feb. 22. Cathy Hartwell (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) was named the recipient of the Metropolitan Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference's Dick Krempecki Outstanding Senior Award at the conclusion of the meet.

Given annually to an outstanding senior who has contributed the most to the Metropolitan Conference and to the sport of swimming, the award is named in honor of long-time St. John's head coach Dick Krempecki. Hartwell's win marked the second straight year that a Pioneer took home the award, as Katelyn Esposito was the honoree in 2008.

All told, the Pioneers set 11 new school records during the three-day event – seven individual swims and all four relays.

Junior Caitlin Rotondo (Brick, N.J./Methacton) won the 200 breast B Final with a time of 2:31.84, breaking the previous record of 2:33.78 set by teammate Brett Kuchin (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) on Feb. 7 earlier this season against Montclair State.

Senior Grace McKay (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) led off the 400 free relay prelim with a time of 53.42 to break the 100 free record of 53.68 set by Laurie Gazdalski during the 1994-95 season.

The 400 free relay team of McKay, Rotondo, freshman Lesly Mendoza (Passaic, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and Hartwell posted a time of 3:39.85 to win the preliminaries and break the previous WP record of 3:41.08 set by Lisa Bedford, Tracy Bauman, Connie Wasberg and Kim Stair at the 1990 NCAA Championships. The Pioneers later finished fifth in the A Final with a time of 3:41.19.

McKay won the prelims (2:07.36) in a NCAA Championship Division III B qualifying time before finishing third in the A Final of the 200 back (2:09.17). Sophomore Tara Graham (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) was eighth in the B Final (2:23.19) and classmate Kirsten Shea (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Twp.) was sixth in the C Final (2:28.88) in the same event.

Hartwell touched eighth in the 100 free A Final (54.57), while Kuchin was second in the 200 breast B Final (2:32.48). In the 200 fly B Final, Mendoza was fourth (2:20.33) and classmate Stephanie Smith (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) finished seventh (2:26.73).

In the 1,650 free, sophomore Lauren Horowitz (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) was 11th (18:56.58), Shea was 21st (19:43.75), and freshman Rebecca Vinch (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) was 25th (20:12.98).

Junior Giana Albruzzese (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) was sixth in the one-meter dive final (296.25), while junior Christine Sullivan (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional-Old Tappan) was 10th (254.05) and senior Casey Eustace (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) was 12th (212.90) in the prelims.