The College of Staten Island women’s swimming and diving team earned a third place standing in the CUNYAC Championship last weekend, and were rewarded handsomely with year-end awards from the CUNYAC, taking a total of six all-star citations. Ewa Wojciechowska, Kelly Walsh, Naomi Gaggi, Samantha Escobedo, Caitlin McLoughlin and Dakota Dawkins all earned on via their great performances at the CUNYAC Championship and throughout their fine seasons.
Wojciechowska is the headliner of the bunch, leading CSI this season with 205 total points and 16 first place finishes in dual meets this season. She was CSI’s top point-earner at the Championship as well, adding a couple of CSI records in her signature Freestyle events.
Junior Gaggi also put up terrific numbers this season, and led CSI with a total of 23 top-three finishes this season in dual meets, specializing in distance freestyle events. She placed fourth on the team with 147 total points, and added 9 top-three finishes in relay events, good for a tie of third on the team.
Escobedo also excelled this season, finishing with 153 total points, good for third on the team and 20 top-three finishes in individual events, tied for second on the squad. Her 10 second-place finishes in individual events led the entire team.
Kelly Walsh was the tops of three seniors named to the squad. Walsh didn’t miss a meet this season, placing second on the squad with 159 total points, and leading the way with 10 top-three finishes in relay events. She was second on the squad with eight first-place finishes in individual events as well.
McLoughlin added a new diving dimension to her senior season with the Dolphins and it helped her to 13 top three finishes this season in individual competition. He also picked up a gold medal on the one-meter boards at the CUNYAC Championship.
Rounding out the field was Dawkins, CSI’s 2015 Female Athlete of the Year. In a curtailed final season, Dawkins posted 11 top three finishes this season in individual events and another four in relay events.
The final stop for the women’s team will be a showing at the Metro Swim Championships at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ, this coming weekend.
