San Antonio - The Tigers are gearing up for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Swimming & Diving Championships, slated for February 12-15 at San Antonio's Josh Davis Natatorium.
Two relay races are scheduled for February 12, starting at 5:00 p.m. Swimming preliminaries will be held at 10:30 a.m. on subsequent days, followed by the finals at 6:00 p.m. The diving events are on the slate February 14-15 at approximately 1:15 p.m., following swimming prelims.
Seven men's and women's teams comprise the field at the SCAC Championships. In addition to Trinity, the competing teams are Austin (TX) College, Centenary (LA) College, Colorado College, McMurry (TX) University, University of the Ozarks (AR), and Southwestern (TX) University.
Last year, the Tiger women won their 16th consecutive SCAC Championship, and the 19th overall, at the event held at San Antonio's Palo Alto College Natatorium. Trinity won six individual relay and swimming titles, along with the 3-meter diving championship. The Tigers produced 40 All-SCAC performances, including the relay races.
Trinity's men finished as team runners-up, as the Tigers had their seven-championship win streak snapped. The Tigers won four individual swimming races and the high and low boards of diving. A total of 35 All-SCAC honors were received by Trinity's men's squad.
In balloting after the championships, Trinity's coaches were elected the SCAC Women's Staff of the Year for the fifth consecutive time. Scott Trompeter is the head swimming coach and is assisted by John Ryan and Kimberly Jones, while Stan Randall heads the diving program.
Current junior Beau Tipton was named the 2019 SCAC Men's Swimmer of the Year. Tipton brought-home the gold in the 200-yard butterfly for the second year in a row. His current time of 1:48.54 is ranked sixth in the NCAA Division III. He also was runner-up in the 100-yard butterfly, and finished second with his teammates in the 800-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard medley relay.
In addition to his national rankings, Tipton stands at #1 in current SCAC times in the 200 freestyle (1:41.29), the 500 freestyle (4:35.57), and the 100 butterfly (50.83 seconds).
Sophomore Maren Merwarth was tabbed as last year's SCAC Women's Diver of the Year. Merwarth won the high-board title and was runner-up on the low board. This season, Merwarth, Katarina Partalas, and Mya Tio have qualified for the NCAA Division III South/Southeast Diving Championships, along with men's diver Anthony Liva. The championships will be held February 28-29 at Trinity's Hixon Natatorium.
Junior Mabel Fowler won three individual women's events last year and was part of two relay titles. Fowler captured the 200 backstroke and became the first person to win the 500 freestyle in consecutive years. She also was the champion of the 200 freestyle.
Fowler is currently ranked #1 in the nation in the 1,000 freestyle (10.14.97) and is eighth in the 1,650 freestyle (17:10.11) and 200 backstroke (2:01.76). She holds a #9 ranking in the 500 freestyle (4:48.81), and has the best time in the conference in the 100 backstroke (58.54 seconds).
Fowler and her teammates also won the 400 freestyle relay and the 800 freestyle relay. Two of the four 400 relay champions will join Fowler in this year's event, Star Rosales and Morgen Reyna, along with Elizabeth Nelson. The quartet is ranked ninth nationally in the 400 freestyle relay (3:29.20) and 14th in the 200 free relay (1:35.82). The 800 free relay title went to Fowler, Reyna, Abbie Jones, and Meghan Magill.
Rosales leads the SCAC in the 50 butterfly (26.67 seconds), while Caroline Westholder is tops in the 200 butterfly (2:07.63) and 400 individual medley (4:43.77). Reyna leads the league in the 200 individual medley (2:08.85).
The 200 medley relay unit of Fowler, Reyna, Rosales, and Nelson are #1 in the SCAC with a time of 1:48.24. Jadyn Trahan joins Fowler, Reyna, and Rosales as a top-team member in the 400 medley relay (3:58.89).
Daniel Sarman is a returning men's champion in the 200 backstroke, and is ranked second in the SCAC at 1:52.64 to teammate Matt Lanzara. Sarman leads the conference in the 100 freestyle (47.02 seconds) and the 200 individual medley (1:54.11).
Grayden Nelson is #1 in the 1,000 freestyle (10:03.13) and the 1,650 freestyle (16:33.98). In addition to his top time in the 200 backstroke (1:51.91), Lanzara leads the conference with a mark of 23.95 seconds in the 50 backstroke and the 100 backstroke (51.04 seconds).
Spencer Steward has the best conference times in the 100 breaststroke (57.23 seconds) and the 200 breaststroke (2:02.78). Shamzi Alkaff leads the 50 freestyle (21.35 seconds), and Noah Stopkotte is #1 in the 400 individual medley (4:15.86).
The Tiger men have turned in a number of conference leading times in the relay races.
The team of Alkaff, Sarman, Eamon Morris, and Leon Faulk lead the 200 free relay at 1:25.62. The same quartet is tops in the 400 freestyle relay at 3:07.50.
Sarman, Alkaff, Elliott Fleming, and Ben Adams have posted the best SCAC time in the 200 medley relay at 1:33.49. In the 400 medley relay Sarman, Steward, Tipton, and Alkaff have top honors with a mark of 3:27.00.
Tickets are required for spectators, and information may be found at scacsports.com.
