Diving Drama: Laitala’s Fifth Triumph as GNAC Diver of the Week, with Lewis and Kelliher Shine on Honor Roll!

WINTHROP, Mass. – The Norwich University women’s swimming & diving squad resumed their weekly compilation of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) accolades following their initial meet after the holiday recess, as Reilly Laitala (Sterling, Mass.) earned her fifth consecutive GNAC Diver of the Week while Brandy Lewis (Strafford, Vt.) and Alannah Kelliher (Middleboro, Mass.) secured spots on the GNAC Honor Roll, as revealed by the league office on Monday evening.

The Cadet women showcased their dominance in every event during their Senior Day competition against GNAC rival Elms College, defeating the Blazers with a score of 222-54.

Laitala excelled during Norwich’s Senior Day contest versus Elms, first achieving victory in the 1 meter diving 6 optional with a score of 188.10. The native of Sterling, Mass. claimed her second individual triumph of the day later in the 1 meter diving 5 voluntary, recording a score of 145.00.

Lewis accomplished Norwich’s first individual victory, finishing the 100 freestyle in 11:50.55, and subsequently returned to the water, clocking a 5:49.51 in the 500 freestyle, before participating in back-to-back events to wrap up the meet. The first was the 200 IM, where Lewis finished first with a time of 2:27.04, and then she swam the opening leg of the 200 freestyle relay team, leading the team to a first-place time of 1:48.49.

Kelliher began her day swimming the second leg of the 200 medley relay team, finishing in 2:05.72, before reappearing a few events later for the 50 breaststroke, where she claimed the top position with a time of 34.71. She returned shortly after to record a 26.57 in the 50 freestyle, achieving first place. Kelliher concluded her events by swimming the final leg of the 200 freestyle relay, contributing to the team’s 1:48.49 finish.

Laitala’s Diver of the Week recognition marks the fifth for her in the 2024-25 season and the tenth overall in her career. Lewis and Kelliher have both received GNAC Swimmer of the Week honors this season, joining Maria Piekarczyk (Dudley, Mass.) as Norwich women’s swimmers featured on the GNAC Honor Roll.

The Cadets will compete in one more dual meet this season, heading to Plymouth State University on Saturday, Jan. 18, for a 12:00 p.m. matchup. Following that, Norwich will take a select group of swimmers to the Middlebury Invitational in Middlebury, Vt., from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, before the focus shifts to the three-day GNAC Championship, hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., from Feb. 7 to Feb. 9.