By Jessica Drogemuller, Swimming World College Intern
SOUTH EUCLID – The Appalachian Swimming Conference is halfway through its season, and with three months until the conference championship all 15 teams are showing that their hard work is more than effective already. Mid-season meets are underway and after thanksgiving break, the real training starts. These collegiate athletes need to put their best foot forward in the classroom as well as in the pool as they train their hardest and take their finals. Although it is challenging, it is truly a part of being an elite athlete.
Alderson-Broaddus University
The Alderson Broaddus swim team is off to quite a nice start. At their first home meet this year, the women’s team swept the 50 freestyle. Elizabeth Creech, Bethany Fitzgerald, and Nancy Giron went 1-2-3, closing the other team out completely. Another outstanding member of the women’s team, Alexa Pigliacampi has ranked well within the conference’s butterfly races. On the other hand, the men’s team placed high at every dual meet they have had so far. Paolo Mesde, a sprinter on the team, has posted a 22.7 in his 50 freestyle. His success this early in the season says a lot about the potential that he and his teammates have in the next 3 months. Perhaps, if their season continues on they will place higher than the predicted ninth place for each team.
Asbury University
Their season is fairly even-split so far, but the Asbury swim team is focused on keeping their motivation going. Several of their swimmers have presented their best times. Leah Haeiber has been impressing her coaches and teammates with her 50 and 100 freestyle times, 25.5 and 55.8 respectively. Also on the women’s team, Natasha Odvor swam her 100 breaststroke in 1:10.4, setting her up nicely for the future. The men’s team has had several stand out swims so far. Richard Barns swam 21.8 in his 50 free. Stuart Iverson placed high in his 200 backstroke with a 2:01.12. Finally, Friend Bechtel went 1:49.04 in his 200 freestyle. Last year, both the men and the women placed in the middle of the pack, they have the potential to move up a couple notches however.
Brenau University
After winning conference last year, Brenau once again predicted to place first. Rightfully so, as many of the women on the team are putting up times similar to what they swam at conference back in February. Michelle Billeaud, Appalachian Swimming Conference’s female swimmer of the week for the week of October 1st, swam a 24.8 in her 50 freestyle and a 59.5 in her 100 butterfly. The ASC’s female swimmer of the week for the week of October 15th, Courtney Hayward swam the mile in 17:58.3, her 500 freestyle in 5:10.40 and a 4:44.6 400 individual medley. In addition, Talia Sola swam 59.1 in her 100 backstroke and Sarah Frey swam her 100 breaststroke in 1:14.0.
Emmanuel College
Much like Brenau, Emmanuel College has also had several of their swimmers on the ASC’s swimmer of the week list. For the week of October 1, Andrew Reichenbach took the title, Santiago Aguilar was up next during the week of October 28th, and finally Camillo Mendoza earned his spot for the week of November 5th. Reichenbach’s season best so far in his 100 breaststroke has been 1:02. Aguilar set his place in the 100 butterfly with a 53.05, and Mendoza swam a 4:16.2 in his 400 individual medley. Camillo Orrego swam the 200 and 400 individual medley as well, in 1:54.01 and 4:04.65. The women’s team has shown their success as well. Laura Gonzalez swam a 1:00 in her 100 butterfly while her teammate Diana Tobo went 2:01 in her 200 freestyle and a 2:05.86 in her 200 backstroke.
King University
King University, predicted to place sixth on the women’s side and twelfth on the men’s side at conference, is looking forward to what the rest of the season will bring. There has been promise from a few of their outstanding swimmers so far. Nicole Mablonado swam a 25.01 in her 50 freestyle and a 57.50 in her 100 freestyle. Justin Reeves swam the 200 freestyle in 1:55.04. Tyler Brewster swam his 50 freestyle in 24.06. They, in addition to their teammates, are putting their time and energy toward training for conference.
LaGrange College
After getting a new head coach this year, LaGrange is changing things up quickly and efficiently. Shortly after season started, Ben Fuller set a new school record in the mile with an 18:47.06. In addition to his personal best in the mile, his 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle turned to individual records as well, 1:56.8 and 5:15.7. Fuller’s teammate Kyra Odum has improved her times throughout the season as well.
Mars Hill University
Abby Harty, one of Mars Hill’s brightest stars, has had a very impressive season so far. Starting the week of October 22nd, she remained the ASC’s swimmer of the week three weeks in a row. Harty has improved her times throughout the season, her 200 IM started at a 2:14. 4 which she brought down to 2:13.4. She also dropped a second in her 100 breaststoke, going from 1:09.8 to 1:08.8. Her teammates Elle Grier and Maggie Mills have put up impressive times as well.
Grier swam the 1000 freestyle in 11:21.8 as well as her 500 freestyle in 5:19.49 and Mills swam her season bests in the 50 and 100 freestyle in 25.9 and 56.7 respectively. The men have not disappointed either. At the Sewanee invitational, Ludovico Corsini swam the 100 breaststroke in 56.7. Early in the season, Brett Malmstrom and David Halberg placed back to back in the 1000 freestyle with 10:20.4 and 10:21.7. Malmstrom later improved his time and dropped down to 10:15.4. In addition, Ryan Martin made a splash with a 49.7 100 freestyle. With times such as these, it is possible that the men’s team will place in the predicted second place and the women can surpass the predicted seventh place.
Milligan College
Milligan College is predicted to place twelfth on the women’s side and eleventh on the men’s side. Hoping to change that, several of their swimmers have been working hard and putting up best times. Kelsey Achin swam 26.47 in her 50 freestyle and 2:12.6 in her 200 freestyle. Grant Callahan swam his 100 breaststroke in 1:05.3. 100 and 200 backstroke are the specialty of Brent Crosby, he swam personal bests in 1:00.6 and 2:12.6.
Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College’s women’s team is predicted to repeat their third place title that they received last year while the men’s team is predicted to place eighth. The team seems to have well-rounded times throughout. The women’s team has been performing well so far. Kelsi Turk swam her 1650 freestyle in 17:43.47. Both Raquel Loustau and Raquel Licea have swam their 50 freestyle in 25.6 and 25.8 respectively. Loustau has also put up a 56.8 in her 100 freestyle. Kaitlin Wright recently swam her 200 butterfly in 2:09.28. The men have impressed as well. Two of their sprinters, Jeffrey Saltzgaber and Dylan Dykes, swam their 50 freestyle in 22 seconds. Dykes swam 22.7 and Saltzgaber swam 22.5. Saltzgaber also completed the 100 freestyle in 50.55. James Fittro swam his 1000 freestyle in 10:14.3. Conner Heslin swam his 500 freestyle in 5:02.2 and his 100 butterfly in 55.0. Hunter Bell swam his 100 breaststroke in 1:00.36.
St. Andrews University
After placing well last year, St. Andrews is looking to repeat that. The week of November 11th, David Lambert was the ASC male swimmer of the week. Joining their teammate in his success, Georgi Krastev, Ryan Frayne, Josh Dixon, and Elliot Boone have put up impressive times. Krastev swam 51.6 in his 100 backstroke and 1:55.4 in his200 backstroke. Frayne swam his 200 breaststroke in 2:10.9. Like Lambert who swam 20.07 in his 50 freestyle, Boone and Dixon both showed their sprinting abilities, Boone in his 100 freestyle, 49.8, and Dixon in his 50 freestyle, 22.0. Representing the women’s team, Triniti Counter swam impressive butterfly races. Counter swam her 100 and 200 butterfly in 58.16 and 2:10.52. Choolwe Lourens swam her 100 backstroke in 1:02.59.
Union College
Union College has both a male and a female swimmer that became an ASC swimmer of the week this season. The week of October 22nd, Bradley Moore was the male swimmer of the week. His teammate, Callie Harrigan was the swimmer of the week during the week of November 19th. Harrigan has had an amazing season so far, swimming her 50, 100, and 200 freestyle in 24.5, 53.6, and 1:57.3, respectively. Her teammates Jule Stein and Lara Kaufmann have swam impressive times as well. Stein swam her 200 breaststroke in 2:29.4 and Kaufmann’s 500 freestyle was 5:18.4. Moore earned his spot as swimmer of the week with a 1:56.5 in his 200 backstroke. Nathan Lethbridge swam a 21.5 in his 50 freestyle and a 48.2 in his 100 freestyle. Dalton Baxter swam some impressive distance times. His mile clocked in at 16:44.4, his 500 freestyle at 4:47.7, and his 200 freestyle at 1:46.4.
Urbana University
So far, Urbana University has had many of its swimmers improve their times. Aerika Weiser has had an outstanding start to her season with improved sprint times. Her 50, 100, and 200 freestyle show great promise at 24.5, 54.9, and 1:58.83. The men have been working hard as well, and it shows. Kim Helander swam his 100 butterfly in 51.10 and his 100 freestyle in 48.7. Similarly, Alexander Espinoza swam his 100 freestyle in 48.0. In addition, Espinoza swam his 50 freestyle in 22.2 and his 200 freestyle in 1:46.5. On the stroke end, Matt Stover held his own, pulling out a 52.7 100 backstroke, 1:55.7 200 backstroke, 1:56.51 200individual medley and a 4:19.6 400 individual medley.
Warren-Wilson College
Eager to change up their meet schedule, Warren-Wilson recently swam in a meters pool. While there, Annie Courtway swam the 100 butterfly in 1:02.20 and her 200 freestyle in 2:25.0. Her teammate, Audrey VanderBoon swam a 100 backstroke in 1:19.23. For the guy’s team, Edsel Puala-Aquino swam his 50 freestyle in 51.9 and came into the wall for his 100 butterfly at 1:10.2. Back into a yards pool, Evan Jurick swam his 100 freestyle in 51.9 and a 23.63 in his 50 freestyle.
West Virginia University Tech
WVU Tech is having a successful year so far, as they prepare to make a come-back at conference in February. A couple of their swimmers from each time are reflecting the work they are doing during the training season. Jesus Ballesteros swam a 22.3 in his 50 freestyle and a 49.0 in his 100 freestyle. Geoffrey Gaureau went 53.3 in his 100 butterfly. Matheus Montarroyos swam both the 200 and 500freestyle, finishing at 1:47.4 and 4:56.7. On the women’s side, Francine Meyer swam her 50 freestyle in 25.4 and her 100 butterfly in 1:01.3. Kendra Monnin showed her overall ability by achieving results in the 200 individual medley, 2:16.5, 1000 freestyle, 11:26.05, 100 breaststroke, 1:11.7, 200 freestyle, 1:59.4.
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling Jesuit’s men are coming off of a winning season and the women are returning from a second place finish. Both teams are predicted to place the same way this year. Helping to encourage that this is something that can happen, several swimmers have made their way onto the list of swimmer of the week. October 25th, Jakub Swierczynski was the ASC male swimmer of the week. October 28th, Anna Davis was the female swimmer of the week. November 19,
Jandre Strauss was the male swimmer of the week. Strauss has already swam a sub-minute 100 breaststroke, finishing at 58.8. Swierczynski swam his 100 freestyle in 48.06. Jakub Skrzypczak had a few stand out swims already this year. His 400 individual medley, 4:16.2, and 100 backstroke, 52.2, just a few of them. The women have been performing just as well. Anna Davis managed to swim a 25.0 in her 50 freestyle. Vanessa Gibson took control of the distance department by touching the wall at 10:53.1 in her 1000 freestyle. Rachel Yontz and Alexis Anderson ran the butterfly events. Anderson swam the 100 in 1:00.4 and Yontz swam the 200 2:12.3.
With all of these teams doing as well as they are it is going to make for some serious competition on Valentine’s Day weekend. Perhaps the predicted outcome with come true, but each team will be fighting for that trophy so winning won’t come easily. No matter what, it is a guarantee that each and every swimmer in the ASC is working extremely hard to see what success they can find at the end of the season.