STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – Senior Molly Coogan made sure to make her senior night special, as
the Lady Baron swimmers and divers took on Chatham University in their final home meet of the
year. Franciscan lost to the competitive Cougars 136 to 79.
Coogan, a team captain, was the highlight of the night, taking part in two new Franciscan pool
records in her first and last swims of the night.
"I think she was really feeding off the excitement and the thrill of senior night," head coach
Becky Recznik said. "She just cherished the moment and took it all in and really gave her best
in the moment."
The first record of the night came during the meet's first event, the 200-yard medley relay.
Coogan, along with freshman Nicole Marshall, sophomore Aimee Vunovich, and junior Maria
Giuliani, swam a 2:01.22, breaking the program's best time in Big Red Natatorium.
"That was a fantastic relay we dropped a couple seconds off of," Recznik said.
Coogan's second FUS pool record came on her final swim at home, with a time of 1:18.78 in the
100-yard breaststroke. The time was good for a close second place and Recznik said was close
to Coogan's personal record in the event
In between Coogan's two strong swims was another two FUS pool records set by Giuliani who
has been the team's most productive swimmer during the second half of the season. Giuliani's
time of 2:05.20 in the 200-yard freestyle set the school record and her time of 57.92 won the
100-yard free by nine seconds.
"That's the best she's ever swam that event," Recznik said of Giuliani's time in the 200 free.
"Even at championships last year she swam a 2:05 high, so that time is a good sign."
Another good sign was the time posted by freshman Miriam Martin, who dropped 15 seconds
from her best time in the 1000-yard freestyle after dropping 30 seconds in the previous meet.
"In a distance event that is pretty much unheard of," Recznik said. "She really is determined to
do well and you can see it."
With just two meets left in its regular season, Recznik said her team is now focusing primarily on
the events each swimmer is slotted to compete in during the AMCC championships.
Their first chance to shave down their times will be at Washington & Jefferson College on
January 25 at 1:00 pm.
