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University of Rhode Island

Women's Swimming & Diving

Rams Set to Host Harold Anderson Invitational

Meet Program

KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island swimming and diving team (5-1) returns to action to host the 21st annual Harold Anderson Invitational. The Rams will welcome Assumption College, Bryant, Holy Cross, Maine and Providence College for the two-day event, starting Friday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m.


Rhode Island at the Harold Anderson Invitational

  • Rhody has won 16 of the 20 previous Harold Anderson Invitationals.
  • The Rams have taken first in the event for the last nine years.
  • Out of the four times they didn't finish first, Rhode Island finished in second place twice and third place twice.
  • The four years that Rhode Island didn't win were 1996, 2000, 2005 and 2006. Providence won the inaugural event in 1996, as well as the one held in 2000, and Maine took the event in both 2005 and 2006.
  • The same six teams of Rhode Island, Assumption, Bryant, Holy Cross, Maine and Providence have competed against each other in the Harold Anderson Invitational since the 2011-12 season.
  • Other teams that have competed in the Harold Anderson Invitational in the past are Coast Guard, Fairfield, Springfield College and Vermont.
  • This year, the Harold Anderson Invitational will be held Nov. 18 and 19, making it the earliest in the season that the event has ever been held. The earliest before that was last year's event, which was held over the course of Nov. 20 and 21.


Rhode Island vs. The Field

  • Rhode Island is a combined 27-9 in head-to-head meets with this year's invitational opponents since the 1999-00 season.
  • The Rams hold the advantage in head-to-head wins over Bryant, Maine and Providence.
  • Rhode Island is 6-1 against Bryant, 9-8 against Maine and 12-0 against Providence.
  • Although they've competed against each other in the last five Harold Andersons, Rhode Island hasn't met in a dual meet with either Holy Cross or Assumption since the 1999-00 season.
  • Rhody has already seen Maine and Providence in dual meets earlier in the season. The Rams took care of business in both, defeating Maine at home, 171.5-124.5, and Providence on the road, 146-105.
  • Rhode Island and Bryant are scheduled to meet later on in the season on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Bryant.


Last Time in the Pool

  • The Rams fell short at New Hampshire two weekends ago in a dual meet with the Wildcats, 173-122.
  • Junior Hannah Homans flew in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing it with the only sub-minute time of the event at 58.71.
  • Senior Maria Smirnov won 1-meter diving with a score of 268.57, just five points short of the school record. Her score qualified her for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships in early March.
  • Senior Lauren Folkert didn't finish in first in an event during a meet for the first time this season. Her best finish was second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:08.81).
  • Numerous freshmen medalled at the meet. Katy Evans finished second in 1-meter diving, Maddie Horner finished second in the 200-yard freestyle and Mackenna Dunn took the two-spot in the 100-yard freestyle.
  • The Rams ended the meet strong by finishing second and third in the last event of the day, the 200-yard freestyle relay.


Records Set at the Harold Anderson Invitational

  • Chaya Zabludoff set the school record in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:12.00) at the Harold Anderson Invitational on Nov. 23, 2013.
  • Sophomore Eliza Anderson set a personal record in the 200-yard breaststroke at last year's event with a 2:14.00.
  • Senior Alexandra Brow set all of her personal marks at the Harold Anderson Invitational, including the 50-yard freestyle (25.13), the 100-yard freestyle (56.05), the 200-yard freestyle (2:02.26) and the 400-yard freestyle (3:54.34).
  • Senior Carly DeLiberty set her mark in the 200-yard individual medley at the 2015 event with a 2:12.50.
  • Senior Porshe' Ferrell set a PR in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2014 event with a 1:54.38.
  • Senior Lauren Folkert set her 200-yard freestyle mark at last year's Harold Anderson Invitational (1:55.15).
  • Sophomore Grace Kneller set her personal mark in the 100-yard backstroke in 2015 with a 1:00.09.
  • Senior Nicole Liddy set a PR in the 50-yard freestyle at the event her freshman year with a 25.73.
  • Senior Kenna Melkonian set her mark in the 200-yard breaststroke last year with a 2:24.78.
  • Senior Bridget Whalen set her PRs in the 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke at the Harold Anderson Invitational. She set her mark in the 200-yard breaststroke her sophomore year (2:05.99) and the 100-yard backstroke her freshman year (1:01.25).
  • Junior Sydney Williams set personal marks in three of her events at the the Harold Anderson Invitational her freshman year: the 500-yard freestyle (5:04.03), the 1000-yard freestyle (10:23.12) and the 400-yard individual medley (4:36.99).
  • Senior Kayla Zerva set her marks in the 50-yard freestyle (25.64) and the 100-yard freestyle (55.99) at last year's event.


About the Harold Anderson Invitational

  • Rhode Island, Holy Cross, Providence and Vermont originated the Harold Anderson Quadrangular in 1996 to provide swimmers and divers with one last physical challenge before the mental challenge of final exams.
  • In 1997, the event was named after meet official Harold Anderson to mark his 25th anniversary as a starter and referee. Anderson was on hand for URI's very first swim meet on Dec. 1, 1972, and had missed only a handful. His dedication had been unmatched.
  • Anderson officiated all seven New England Championships held at URI and helped run Providence and Brown meets as well. Additionally, he founded the Rhode Island Interscholastic Swimming Officials Organization. Anderson also co-founded the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame, on display in the hallway above the south side of the aquatic center.
  • Through his involvement, Anderson had positively impacted the lives of many student-athletes, coaches, parents and fellow officials.


Meet Expectations from Coach Mick Westkott

"The field for this meet has been tightening up in recent years. Going into the meet, both Bryant University and the University of Maine look stronger than last year. Overall, I believe our student-athletes feel well prepared to have their best performances of the season. Every year, our team gets pumped for this weekend."

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