GARLAND, Texas – The 17th-ranked Trinity women's swimming & diving team opened up the 2023 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships by winning both of Wednesday's events with record-setting times.
The Tigers have taken the early lead in the competition with 116 total points, as Colorado College (94) and Southwestern University (90) are currently in second and third place. McMurry University (72) is fourth, followed by University of the Ozarks (70), Austin College (68), and Centenary College (52).
Just two relay events were on the schedule for the first day at the SCAC meet and Trinity scored NCAA "B" cut times in both the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay. The Tigers set a new SCAC Championship record in the 200 medley relay, while also breaking the school record in the process. The 800 free relay was the second-fastest time in SCAC Championships and Trinity history.
The meet began with the 200 medley relay, featuring
Julie Schwam (Portland, Ore. / David Douglas),
Josie Gillentine (Heath, Texas / Rockwall Heath),
Caroline Myers (Austin, Texas / Bowie), and
Emma Hagan (Overland Park, Kan. / Olathe East) in the championship final. The Tiger team finished in 1:44.63 to win the event for the third consecutive year in the conference meet. That time is also ranked 16th in NCAA III this season.
Juliana Wiehrdt (Waco, Texas / Midway),
Neely Burns (Phoenix, Ariz. / Thunderbird),
Elizabeth Molique (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Saguaro), and
Kylee Hutchinson (Corpus Christi, Texas / Flour Bluff) won the consolation final in a time of 1:47.97 for Trinity, which not only maximized the team points for the event, but is also the ninth-fastest time in school history.
The Tigers had a time of 7:33.15 in the 800 free relay, which is the sixth-fastest time in the nation this year, and is Trinity's fastest time this season. Burns,
Audrey Jacobson (Dallas, Texas / School for the Talent and Gifted),
Erica Peterson (Lantana, Texas / Guyer), and Hagan earned the "B" cut time to ensure a seventh consecutive win in the event for Trinity. Gillentine, Hutchinson,
Rachel Brown (Flower Mound, Texas / Marcus), and Schwam also won the consolation final for Trinity, finishing in 7:54.64. Burns swam the opening leg of the 800 free relay in 1:52.54, which is the sixth-fastest time in Trinity history for the 200 freestyle.
Coach Speak
"The women's 200 medley relay was almost a full second under the school record in a great swim," began Head Coach
Cathleen Pruden. "The first-years swam the majority of our 800 freestyle relays and had some great swims to kick off their first SCAC Championships. We are excited to get the full team racing tomorrow!"
Up Next
Thursday's action will begin with prelims at 10:30 a.m., followed by the finals session at 6:00 p.m. Events for tomorrow's meet include the 200 freestyle relay, the 500 free, the 200 individual medley, and the 50 free.
The overall schedule is the same for Friday and Saturday swim sessions, with the men's and women's diving events beginning at 12:30 p.m. each day. The SCAC will recognize the seniors from each school on Friday at 5:45 p.m., prior to the swimming finals that evening.
