GARLAND, Texas – The second day of the 2023 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships ended with the 21st-ranked Tiger men's team holding a slim lead over Colorado College at the Garland ISD Natatorium.
Trinity has scored 332 points in two days of competition at the conference meet, which is just 10 points ahead of Colorado College in second place. Southwestern University is in third with 252 points, followed by McMurry University scoring 120 points for fourth place. University of the Ozarks (106), Austin College (87), and Centenary College (42) complete the list of teams after Thursday's action.
The night began with Trinity notching an NCAA "B" cut with a time of 1:20.77 in the 200 free relay, breaking both the school and conference open records.
Michael Kohl (Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point),
Nolan Anthony (Missouri City, Texas / Missouri City),
Nathaniel Early (Austin, Texas / Westwood), and
Caleb Manifold (Helotes, Texas / Homeschool) brought home a third consecutive win for Trinity in the event for a record-breaking start.
After just missing All-SCAC honors in the 500 free, a pair of Tiger swimmers earned the accolades in the 200 individual medley.
Matteo Lanzara (Moraga, Calif. / Campolindo) finished second with a time of 1:52.15, while
John Key (El Paso, Texas / Franklin) was third in 1:52.64 in the race.
Kendal Southwell (Rio Rancho, N.M. / Calvert Online Academy) also moved up to sixth in school history with his performance in the event, clocking in at 1:54.60.
The 50 free sprint race made for an exciting finish to Friday's swimming events, and Kohl won for the second consecutive season. He earned an NCAA "B" cut with his career-best time of 20.25 seconds, which is second in school history in the event. Manifold tied for second with a time of 20.62 seconds that is good for fourth place in the Trinity record book.
Coach Speak
"The 200 free relay impressed with a new school record time to start things off," said Head Coach
Cathleen Pruden. "The 200 IMs were gutsy and we showed some speed in the 50s. I know these guys are excited for tomorrow's events and will be ready to roll in the morning."
Up Next
Friday will be a busy day at the pool as both teams resume at 10:30 in the morning with prelims for five more individual events. The women's 3-meter and men's 1-meter events will begin at 12:30 p.m. to introduce the diving competition. The SCAC will recognize the senior classes from across the conference at 5:45 p.m., followed by the evening's swim session that includes five individual events. The 400 medley relay will close out the third day of the meet.
