CANTON, Ohio – The Frostburg State Women's Swim team concluded the GMAC/MEC Championships on Friday by placing fourth overall and securing their fifth consecutive Mountain East Conference title, while sophomore Genna Rippeon was named the Women's Swimmer of the Meet.
 
Day one began with the team of senior Gaby Betancourt, juniors Mackenzie Payne and Jayme Meadows and freshman Riley Denard taking fifth overall in the 200-yard medley relay while earning Second Team All-MEC honors. Rippeon started her individual prowess in the 1,000 free by taking first overall with an NCAA B Cut time of 10:22.25, while freshman Jenna Handwerger placed seventh and took Second Team All-MEC at 10:54.42.
 
In the 200 IM, junior Alexis Ramsey and sophomore Taylor Emrich each qualified for the C final and were the top two MEC finishers at 2:15.42 and 2:16.68, respectively, to earn First and Second Team. Closing out the first day, Payne and Meadows joined juniors Brenna Naddeo and Reagan Chase to place sixth overall and Second Team All-MEC in the 200 free relay at 1:41.18. FSU ended fourth overall and tops in the MEC at 208 points following the first 12 events.
 
Starting out the second day, Payne and Ramsey both qualified for the B final in the 100 fly, with the former taking Honorable Mention All-MEC honors at 1:00.09, just ahead of the latter's 1:00.79. Rippeon then added her second first-place finish of the meet in the 400 IM at 4:29.37, while Emrich (4:45.91) won the B Final for Second Team honors and sophomore Ashley Ellsworth (4:52.34) earned Honorable Mention All-MEC.
 
During the 200 free, Handwerger was tops in the B final at 1:55.07 while Meadows' 1:56.63 earned them both Second Team and Honorable Mention All-MEC, respectively. Betancourt, Handwerger, Payne, and Rippeon then took fourth overall in the 400 medley relay, with their time of 4:01.69 good enough for First Team All-MEC, as the Bobcats ended day two on the same placement at 402 points.
 
Rippeon continued her dominance into day three, taking first overall in the 500 free and securing another NCAA B Cut in 5:00.94. Betancourt followed up with Second Team All-MEC in the 100 back (1:00.00) while freshman Kallie Gyurisin earned Honorable Mention in the 100 breast (1:11.31).
 
One of Frostburg's top events as a team came in the 200 fly, where Handwerger placed third overall at 2:07.98, while Ramsey (2:13.50) and junior Morgan Greenlee (2:14.78) made it First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention All-MEC honors between the trio. Emrich, Meadows, Handwerger, and Rippeon then had FSU's top relay finish of the meet, placing third overall in the 800 free relay at 7:50.47 for First Team All-MEC and 619 points.
 
Entering the final day of competition, Rippeon concluded her individual performances with her third B Cut and victory in the 1,650 free at 17:20.04, as Ellsworth (18:13.58) also impressed in taking sixth overall and Honorable Mention All-MEC. Meadows then rounded out her meet with a spot in the A Final of the 200 back, taking eighth overall at 2:13.42 to earn Second Team All-MEC.
 
For the final event of the week, Chase, Ellsworth, Handwerger, and Rippeon placed fifth overall in the 400 free relay, with their time of 3:36.98 securing Second Team All-MEC.
 
As a team, FSU remained in fourth overall on 846 points, placing first among Mountain East schools. The full list of All-MEC honorees is listed below.
 
First Team All-MEC
Betancourt, Handwerger, Payne, Rippeon – 400 Medley Relay
Emrich, Meadows, Handwerger, Rippeon – 800 Free Relay
Genna Rippeon – 1,000 Free, 400 IM, 500 Free, 1,650 Free
Alexis Ramsey – 200 IM
Jenna Handwerger – 200 Fly
 
Second Team All-MEC
Betancourt, Denard, Payne, Meadows – 200 Medley Relay
Naddeo, Payne, Chase, Meadows – 200 Free Relay
Chase, Ellsworth, Handwerger, Rippeon – 400 Free Relay
Jenna Handwerger – 1,000 Free, 200 Free
Taylor Emrich – 200 IM, 400 IM
Gaby Betancourt – 100 Back
Alexis Ramsey – 200 Fly
Jayme Meadows – 200 Back
 
Honorable Mention All-MEC
Mackenzie Payne – 100 Fly
Ashley Ellsworth – 400 IM, 1,650 Free
Jayme Meadows – 200 Free
Kallie Gyurisin – 100 Breast
Morgan Greenlee – 200 Fly