WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt.-  The Eastern Connecticut State University women's swim team broke four more records and strengthened its hold on second place Saturday at theNew England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Division II-III Championships at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center.

At right: Michelle Schapp

Leading Roger Williams University by 23 ½ points after Friday's first day, Eastern fell into third place after three events Saturday, but outscored the Hawks  63-20 in the 100 yard backstroke to move ahead again, and opened up the lead to 80.5 points after Saturday's final event.

Eastern finished fourth last year, but two Division II institutions which finished ahead of the Warriors – champion Bentley College and Assumption College – did not compete this season. 

With seven swimming events remaining Sunday, Eastern has totaled 783.5 points and trails only Keene State College (1,125). Roger Williams has 703 and Division II Saint Michael's College 516 in a field which includes 21 scoring teams.

Each team's point totals do not included diving events which are taking place at Plymouth State University (Eastern does not have a diving team).

Saturday, Eastern  collected 86 points in the 200 freestyle – the fifth event of the day -- followed with 63 points in the 100 backstroke and 62 more in the 100 breaststroke before  the 800 freestyle relay garnered 52 points with a second-place finish in a program-record time of 8:07.84 in the final event of the day.

Securing additional program records for Eastern Saturday were junior Michelle Schapp (Torrington), freshman Katie King (Barkhamsted) and the 200 medley relay. Schapp set her second individual record in the championships with a time of 28.75 in the 50 backstroke which ignited the 200 medley relay to its program-record time of 1:52.52. Katie King broke her second individual record in two days with a time of 1:08.95 in the 100 breaststroke that broke her record that she had set in the Little East Conference Championships Dec. 1.

Joining Schapp on the record 200 medley relay were Katie King, junior Colleen King (Barkhamsted) and sophomore Kayla Smoragiewicz (Norwalk), while juniors Erin McVeigh (Windsor), Marissa Colley (East Haven), Schapp and Becky Odgers (Shelton) teamed on the record 800 freestyle relay.

Top finishes along with the 800 freestyle relay were the 200 medley relay (3^rd), McVeigh in the 200 freestyle (2^nd), Colleen King in the 50 butterfly (5^th), Odgers  in the 1000 freestyle (6^th),  Colley in the 200 freestyle (6^th) and Schapp in the 100 backstroke (6^th).