SPORTS

 

GENEVA, OHIO — The Davidson swimming and diving teams opened the 2021 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships with a splash Wednesday evening at the SPIRE Institute.

Actually, it was three splashes.

The Wildcats won the championship meet’s first three events, sweeping the 200-yard medley relays and also taking gold in the women’s 800 freestyle relay.

“For the women to earn both relay titles tonight was just a delight,” said coach John Young. “If they can spend the week having fun and inspiring each other — like tonight — nothing could beat that. On the men’s side, that 200 medley is our men’s first A-10 relay title. I’m so happy for them. They put themselves on the podium with a great swim. Kevin Andrews logged our fastest 50 back ever.”

The Wildcat quartet of Julia Goodhead, Sarah Helen Shepherd, Shelby Stanley and Martha Tripsa got the night started in a big way by following through on its top 200 medley seeding with a winning time of 1:40.92, just shy of a program record.

Not to be outdone, Andrews, Cael McLaren, Will Tabor and Kilian Quinn then swam to a school-record mark of 1:29.03 in the men’s medley. Andrews, Tabor and Quinn joined now-graduated Alex Strasser on the relay that set the previous mark (1:29.77) at last season’s A-10 meet. Andrews’ 50 back time of 22.30 eclipsed Luke Burton’s 22.44 from the 2015 A-10s and Geoffrey Peitz’s 22.52 from the 2011 CCSAs.

In the 800 free relay, it was Siena Senn, Shepherd, Stanley and Abby Francis swimming out front. They touched the wall in 7:19.48.

The Wildcats also took fifth in the men’s 800 relay Wednesday, with Ian Brann, Owen Corkery, Jacob Jungand Mitchell Stanek posting a time of 6:41.97.

The winning continued on Thursday

Three wins — including a repeat, a 1-2 finish and another relay — marked the second day of the Atlantic 10 Championships for the Davidson women’s swimming and diving team.

Coupled with Wednesday’s two relay wins, that’s five Wildcat victories in the meet’s first six events.

“My story isn’t changing,” said Davidson coach John Young. “Nothing can beat having fun and inspiring each other, and the ‘Cats kept that up today. They were incredible, and I’m so grateful for them.” 

Siena Senn repeated as 500 freestyle champion, finishing with a time of 4:49.00 and trimming 0.72 off her 2020 finals time.

The Wildcats then went 1-2 with sophomores Abby Francis and Shelby Stanley finishing out front in the 50 free. Francis touched the wall in 23.19, with Stanley on her heels (23.22) to give the Wildcats 37 points between them.

Julia Goodhead, Francis, Stanley and Martha Tripsa then took first in the 200 free relay, with a time of 1:31.95, just shy of a school record. It’s the third relay the Wildcat women have won, following the 200 medley and 800 free wins from the opening session.

Others swimming to A Final points for the Wildcats Thursday were Sylvia Stewart-Bates (7th, 500 free), Sarah Helen Shepherd (6th, 200 IM) and Goodhead (8th, 50 free).

The three-meter diving championship was held at George Mason, and Wildcat Anna Jepson took sixth with a score of 251.70.

Up Next
Action continues Friday with prelims beginning at 8:30 a.m. and finals set for 3:30 p.m. Events include: 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 200 free. The one-meter diving competition will be held at George Mason, with prelims at 9:30 a.m.