Samko Notches 300th as Bentley Tops UMass-Dartmouth ; Mancini Sweeps Diving with NCAA Qualifying Marks

Samko Notches 300th as Bentley Tops UMass-Dartmouth ; Mancini Sweeps Diving with NCAA Qualifying Marks

WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University men's and women's swimming and diving coach Mary Kay Samko registered her 300th dual meet win with the Falcons Saturday afternoon when the Bentley women topped UMass-Dartmouth, 126-92, at the Dana Center pool.

The win total grew to 301 minutes later when the men's team completed a sweep of the Corsairs, 132-73. Samko, in 17 years at Bentley, has a women's record of 174-55 and a men's mark of 127-57 for a combined 301-112.

Junior Amanda Le (Chelmsford/Chelmsford HS), senior Monika Drogosz (Unionville, Conn./ Farmington HS) and freshman Nicola Mancini (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth HS) each played significant roles in the milestone victory.

Mancini exceeded the qualifying standards for the NCAA Division II Championships for the second straight meet while winning both diving events. She posted a score of 263.90 on the one-meter board and followed with a 279.10 on the three-meter.

Le and Drogosz both helped Bentley get off to a positive start with a win in the 400 yard medley relay, combining with junior Caroline Lewis (Westfield/Westfield HS) and senior Jessica Hodsdon (Brewer, Maine/Brewer HS) for a time of 4:13.20.

Le also registered victories in the 400 individual medley (4:50.71) and the 200 breaststroke (2:28.59). Drogosz captured the 200 freestyle in 2:03.64, and led off the Falcons' winning 400 free relay team.

Bentley's other individual winners were Hodsdon in the 50 free (25.99), Lewis in the 200 back (2:20.58), sophomore Danielle Hellstern (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug HS) in the 100 free (56.96) and freshman Michelle Giordano (Alfred, Maine/Cheverus HS) in the 1000 free (12:19.72).

Bentley, which improved to 4-0, will compete in the Pace Invitational Nov. 30-Dec. 1.