Hampden, Virginia – The Montclair State University Swimming & Diving team closed out the 2025 NJAC Championships in dominant fashion, breaking four more school records on the final day of competition Sunday.
How It Happened
- The highlight of the day for the Red Hawks was ROURKE PERALTA's victory in the 100 freestyle. She touched the wall first with a time of 51.19, breaking her own record set earlier this year. The time also secured her second NCAA Championship "B" cut qualification. Julianna Skopp-Cardillo also competed in the 100 free, finishing 17th overall with a time of 54.11.
- JULIE TIEDEMANN shattered her previous school record in the 1650 freestyle, clocking in at 17:37.36—13 seconds faster than her previous best of 17:50.44. She placed fifth in the event. KACIE GADZINSKI (18:38.39) and DEVYN FORD (18:42.85) also competed, finishing 17th and 18th, respectively.
- For the second consecutive day, ABBY BROCK set a new school record, this time in the 200 breaststroke. She posted a time of 2:21.86, surpassing Claire Luigard's 2019 record and placing fifth overall. Marianne Tassanari also competed in the championship final, securing eighth place with a time of 2:23.22. In the "C" final, Lilli Shay (2:29.13) finished 19th, followed by SARAH FONDACARO (2:29.70) in 20th and SADIE CRISPELL (2:30.23) in 21st.
- The final record of the championships fell in the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet of Peralta, Tiedemann, SOPHIA SHOPOVICK, and Skopp-Cardillo posted a time of 3:33.03, breaking the previous school record of 3:34.58 set last year. The team placed fifth in the event.
- In the 200 backstroke, JULIA WEINREB advanced to the championship final, where she finished fifth overall with a time of 2:07.21. Shopovick and ABBY PANZARELLA swam in the "C" final, with Shopovick winning the heat (17th overall) in 2:10.74, while Panzarella placed 21st in 2:14.74.
- The championships concluded with the 200 butterfly. MADELINE ROGERS led the Red Hawks with a 10th-place finish in 2:11.41. CATTY GEYER followed in 12th place (2:12.40) in the "B" final. In the "C" final, SYDNEY MCGANN and MADDY WISHNOW finished back-to-back, with McGann placing 21st (2:22.36) and Wishnow finishing 22nd (2:22.36).
- Montclair finised fourth overall among 10 NJAC teams with 897.5 points.
From the Pool
"Great way to wrap up the weekend. More podium swims and another NCAA cut for Rourke. Julie, Sophia, and Jules had a great final night," said Head Coach Brian McLaughlin.
Up Next
With Peralta earning "B" cut times in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events, she will compete in the NCAA Division III Championship meet, scheduled for March 19-22 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
