PHILADELPHIA — The Columbia women's swimming and diving team opened up the 2018-19 season in exciting fashion Friday evening, taking down Ivy League opponent Penn, 171-129, at Sheerr Pool in Philadelphia. The victory marks the first time the Lions have taken down Penn since 2013.
 
"This was a great first season win for us," said head coach Diana Caskey. "The women raced hard and supported each other as the lead went back and forth. The 1-2 finishes in the 100 breast and 500 free shifted the momentum in our favor for the rest of the meet."
 
Upperclassmen and newcomers alike contributed to the victory, but it wasn't until the second half of the meet where the Lions would really take control.
 
Columbia started off the meet on a high note as first-year Briget Rosendahl won the 3-meter springboard with a score of 276.67. She would go on to sweep the diving events, taking the 1-meter crown with a score of 242.17. Fellow first-year Michelle Lee took second on the 1-meter board, close behind with score of 238.41.
 
"The divers had a solid debut," said diving coach Scott Donie. "We will be looking to improve on these performances as we build momentum into the season."
 
Starting off strong in the 200-yard medley relay, the Lions' quartet of junior Julia Samson, senior Jessica Antiles, sophomore Emily Wang and senior Mary Ashby teamed up to post a first-place finish with a time of 1:45.37.
 
Penn and Columbia traded victories for the first few individual races. Sophomore Jessica He claimed Columbia's first individual swimming win, going 1:53.04 to take first in the 200 freestyle. She led a 1-2-3 sweep, followed closely by first-year Clare Larsen (1:54.19) and sophomore Susie Zhu (1:54.84).
 
Junior Helen Wojdylo helped swing the momentum with a 1:04.37 win in the 100 breaststroke, leading a 1-2-3 sweep as first-year Yani Lee took second in 1:05.17 and Antiles placed third at 1:05.25. Wojdylo and Le carried that 1-2 finish into the 200 breast.
 
The 100 free was where the Lions really took control as Ashby touched the wall first in 53.00 just ahead of Larsen at 53.05.
 
First-year Mary Pruden earned her first individual career win, finishing first overall in the 500 free ahead of He with a time of 5:05.13.
 
Wrapping up the individual races, Antiles came into the wall first in the 200 IM for the Lions, posting a time of 2:05.70. Pruden was second at 2:07.77, while Wojdylo placed third in 2:09.43.
 
The Lions posted a 200 free relay victory to conclude the meet as Ashby, He, first-year Claire Lin and first-year Clare Larsen combined to go 1:36.62.
 
Columbia will have a short turnaround, returning home on Saturday for its first home meet of the season. The Lions will host Northeastern at the Percy Uris Natatorium at 1 p.m. ET.

For the latest on the Columbia women's swimming and diving program, follow @CULadySwim on Twitter and Instagram, @ColumbiaDiving on Instagram and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.