Worcester, Mass. – Sophomore sensation Melissa Orzechowski (Windsor, Conn.) blazed her way to a new school record to highlight the first full day of events at the New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) swimming and diving championships on Friday at WPI.

Orzechowski turned in a stellar showing in the 500-yard freestyle, shattering her own school record of 5:07.89 by more than four seconds, good enough for a fourth-place finish – a little more than three seconds behind MIT's Emmie Ryan who took the top spot.

Later, she joined Natalie Omary (New York, N.Y.), Karina Urquhart (Sanford, Maine) and Kelsey Clary (Cambridge, Mass.) to post a ninth-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay in 4:10.71.

Breanna Tucker (Temecula, Calif.), who has already qualified for the NCAA Diving Regionals next weekend, finished ninth in on the three-meter board with a score of 387.70.

Tomorrow's action includes the 400-yard IM, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard medley relay.