CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Catawba College women's swimming team delivered a record-setting performance Friday evening against Division I Queens University of Charlotte, highlighted by a school record, an NCAA qualifying relay standard and several NCAA Division II B cuts.
Despite falling to the Royals 167-93 in the dual meet, the Catawba Indians produced several standout performances, including two individual event victories.
Sophomore Eszter Pajor highlighted the evening with a school-record performance in the 200-yard backstroke, touching the wall in 1:59.98 to finish second overall. The swim marked a lifetime best and NCAA B cut while also coming in under last season's NCAA Division II championship invitation time.
Catawba opened the meet with a strong showing in the 400-yard medley relay as Eniko Onofer, Mahée Gory-Lauret, Danila Sita and Fernanda Regina Pera Dos Santos combined for a time of 3:44.20, finishing second and achieving an NCAA relay qualifying standard. Onofer's 55.98 lead off split in the 100-yard backstroke also earned an individual NCAA B cut.
Regina Pera dos Santos continued her impressive evening in the 200-yard freestyle, recording a lifetime-best 1:49.56 to finish second. The performance earned an NCAA B cut and bettered last year's NCAA championship invitation time. She added another B cut in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing second in 50.91, before recording a personal-best 2:06.28 in the 200-yard individual medley.
Sophomore Dani Sita secured one of Catawba's two individual victories, winning the 100-yard butterfly in 55.30. Junior Sydney Peterson followed in third with an NCAA B cut of 55.93.
Gory-Lauret added the Indians' second individual victory in the 200-yard breaststroke, clocking 2:20.35. She also earned an NCAA B cut in the 100-yard breaststroke, placing second with a time of 1:03.77.
Senior Fiona Byrne delivered a pair of NCAA B-cut performances in the distance freestyle events, finishing second in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:18.37 before placing third in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:01.49.
Onofer added another NCAA B cut in the 100-yard freestyle, touching third in 51.72, while junior Sophie Welborn recorded a lifetime-best 52.33 in the same event.
The Catawba Indians closed the meet with a runner-up finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay as Onofer, Peterson, Sita and Clara Campo de Paoli combined for a time of 1:34.31.
Catawba's performances against Division I competition highlighted the program's early-season progress, with national qualifying standards, lifetime bests and a school record setting the tone for the remainder of the campaign.
The Catawba Indians are set to hit the water again 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at Wingate.
