Thrilling Showdown: Divers Lead the Charge as Cardinals Fall to Babson, 146-144

BABSON PARK, MA. – The Wesleyan women’s swimming and diving squad commenced the 2025 segment of the season with a duel match at Babson College, where they narrowly lost by just two points, ending up at 146-144 against Babson. Securing seven first-place finishes, Wesleyan was spearheaded by Olivia Stevenson ’25 and the diving unit on Saturday afternoon at Babson’s Morse Pool.

Stevenson initiated the afternoon competition with two consecutive first-place wins for the Cardinals, starting with the 1,000-yard freestyle. Stevenson touched the wall with a final recorded time of 11:19.44. But Stevenson wasn’t finished. In the following event, the 200-yard freestyle, she achieved first place again, clocking in at 2:06.68. Later in the event, she swam a 5:33.40 in the 500-yard freestyle to secure her third victory.

The 1-meter diving event was dominated by the Cardinals, as Thisbe Diamond ’28 captured the top position to lead the divers. Diamond recorded a score of 235.25, trailed in second by Ella Hall ’28 with a score of 190.05, while Sophie Taubman ’25 took third with a score of 181.60. Taubman later triumphed in the 3-meter dive with a final score of 188.05.

Following Stevenson in the program events, Mia Dezelic ’27 clinched victory in her initial solo event of the afternoon, finishing with a time of 28.08 in the women’s 50-yard backstroke. Dezelic later secured the 100-yard backstroke as she concluded her race with a time of 1:00.06.

In both the 50-yard and 100-yard breaststroke, Sara Bohacek ’26 finished within the top three. In the 50, Bohacek claimed third place with a time of 32.65 before taking second in the 100 with a final time of 1:12.35.

Finishing second in both the 50-yard butterfly and the 100-fly, Izzy Paez ’26 gathered points for the Cardinals with a time of 1:01.64 in the 100, then swimming a 27.68 in the 50.

Dezelic, Paez, Bohacek, and Clara Preisig ’25 combined as the Wesleyan ‘A’ team in the 200-yard medley relay. The team finished second, collectively clocking in at 1:52.65. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Dezelic, Danielle Eforo ’25, Preisig, and Stevenson also placed second as the ‘A’ team, finishing at 3:47.60.

The Cardinals will return to the pool on Wednesday, Jan. 15, hosting Trinity at 4 p.m. in NESCAC competition.