The men’s and women’s swimming teams both finished third overall after four days of competition at Denison University for the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championships.
The women’s team totaled 1,194.5 points, their highest point total since joining the NCAC.
Head Coach Shea Davisson said that the team achieved all of their goals except for the NCAA cut. However, they had many athletes who achieved personal records and showed a strong, united front as a team. The tigers achieved 39 personal best times throughout the meet.
They fell behind Denison University (1,882 points) in second place and Kenyon College (1,937 points) in first place. Sophomore Rachel Graves said that Denison and Kenyon are two of the best programs in the country, so placing behind them was not a negative.
“The team had an outstanding meet,” Graves said. “As a whole, we placed third, which is huge when you’re competing against schools like Denison and Kenyon.”
The 400-yard medley relay consisting of first-year Sammie Waples, junior Allison Lund, sophomore Ali Tallen, and sophomore Ash Dapore earned all-NCAC honors by finishing in third with a time of 3:22.26. Senior Mary Woods finished fourth in the 100-yard individual medley, the highest individual ranking for the team. First-year Molly Ruggles finished in fifth-place.
The 200-yard freestyle relay was the closest to making it to nationals by missing the B cut by 0.10 seconds, and they are waiting to hear if sophomore Katherine Douglas, a diver, will make it to NCAA Nationals held at Wabash College March 1-2.
Davisson said that the crowd plays a big part in the conference tournament because there is a lot of energy.
“The atmosphere on the pool deck is like no other and prepares the athletes to compete under pressure. It is great practice for competing at the NCAA level,” Davisson said.
Woods said the meet was very emotional since it would be the last one of her life.
“As a senior and captain, my individual goals were to have fun at my last meet ever and to support my team the best I could— both of which I would say were accomplished,” Woods said. “It was a bittersweet feeling finishing such a long swimming career, but this team is incredibly special and I am so happy I got to finish this with them by my side.”
Woods is one of three graduating seniors on the team, along with Kayla Riemensperger and Marihelen Gallagher.
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The men’s team also placed third overall, totaling of 1,123 points behind Kenyon (1,829 points) and Denison (1,851 points).
First year Tommy Hackley placed fifth in the 500-yard freestyle which was the highest individual finish the tigers had. Two days later on February 16th, Hackley broke the 1,000-yard freestyle split record (9:38.97) during his 1,6500 yard free race (16:05.71), which placed him fifth. His teammates, first-year Jack Christie and junior Charlie Stewart-Bates, followed right behind him, placing sixth and seventh. Hackley and Christie both swam NCAA “B” Cuts which are considerations for the National meet held at Wabash College this year on March 1-2.
On the first night of competition, the 800-free relay placed fourth with a time of 6:53.15. The next day, the 400 medley relay earned all-NCAC honors by placing third in a time of 3:26.18.
Senior Josh McCowan during the third day of competition placed fifth in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:07.76, which was the highest individual placing for the tigers on February 15th. His teammate, first-year Ben Hilfinger, was 9th in the same event with a time of 4:12.53.
The 400-yard freestyle relay earned all-conference by placing fifth consisting of junior Will Serf, senior Adam Picron, first-year Matt Wilson and sophomore Jake Frech.
The 200 medley relay with junior Ryan Smith, first-year Xavier Fuller, sophomore Ian Longden and Frech, was fourth with a time of 1:32.84.