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Swimming and Diving
vs Friar Invitational
11:00 AM
Providence College Athletics
Swimming And Diving Programs Announce 2016-17 Captains
10/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Oct. 13, 2016
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College Head Coach John O'Neill announced today [Oct. 13] that Katherine Ainley (Rehoboth, Mass.) and Helen Smith (Belmont, Mass.) have been named co-captains of the women's swimming and diving program, while Zachary Begnaud (Natchitoches, La.) and Kurt Grunder (Binghamton, N.Y.) will serve as co-captains for the men's program.
Ainley, a senior, has compiled 237.25 career points during her time with the Providence College swimming and diving program and specializes in the backstroke and breaststroke. She qualified for the BIG EAST Championship in multiple events during the 2015-16 season, including the 200-yard IM, 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke. During the final of the 200-yard breaststroke, Ainley set a school record in the event, finishing in a time of 2:23.0. At the conclusion of the season, Ainley was recognized as the program's Clara Lamore Walker Most Improved Female Athlete Award winner. Prior to her arrival at Providence, she attended Dighton Rehoboth Regional High School. She is the daughter of Douglas and Ellen Ainley and is pursuing a degree in biology.
Smith, a senior, enters the 2016-17 season ranked ninth all-time in career points at Providence College with 657.00. She qualified for multiple events at the 2015-16 BIG EAST Championships, including the 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly, 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay. She set the school record for Providence in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 57.85 on Feb. 26, 2016. She also was a member of the school-record setting 400 medley relay team during the 2013-14 season. At the conclusion of the 2015-16 campaign, Smith was a recipient of the David Hardy Coach's Award and the O'Neill Family Award. Prior to her arrival at Providence, Smith attended Mount Alvernia High School. She is the daughter of Phillip and Anne Smith.
Begnaud, a senior, has recorded 710.50 career points during his tenure with the Friars and specializes in freestyle events. During the 2015-16 season, Begnaud qualified for the BIG EAST Championships in the 200-yard, 500-yard and 1650-yard freestyle races. He also was a member of the 400 and 800-yard freestyle relay teams at the BIG EAST Championships. At the conclusion of the season, he earned the Horace Bowden Award as the team's most valuable student-athlete, and also took home the O'Neill Family Award. On Feb. 19, 2014, Begnaud was a member of the 800 freestyle relay that set a school record, finishing in 6:49.12. Prior to his arrival at Providence, Begnaud attended Natchitoches Central High School. He is son of Mark and Susan Begnaud and is a marketing major.
Grunder, a senior, has recorded 263.00 career points with a focus on IM and breaststroke events. As a junior in 2015-16, he qualified for the BIG EAST Championship in the 200-yard IM, 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard IM. At the conclusion of the 2015-16 campaign, Grunder was a recipient of the David Hardy Coach's Award. Before arriving at Providence he attended Chenango Valley High School. He is the son of Gretchen and Peter Grunder and is carrying a double-major in French and physics.
The Friars open the 2016-17 campaign at the Boston College Catholic Invitational on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 in Newton, Mass.
- GO FRIARS! -
Players Mentioned
Backstroke/Breaststroke
/ Swimming and Diving
Freestyle/IM
/ Swimming and Diving
Freestyle/IM
/ Swimming and Diving
Butterfly/IM
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