By Rachel Ewart, Swimming World College Intern
After a long season of training and preparation, the NSISC division concluded its NSISC Championships this past weekend with some excellent swims.
Meet Honorees
The University of West Florida’s women’s team won first place at conference in its second year competing. Head Swim Coach Andrew Hancock is not only enthused about the victory, but also about the attitudes that his athletes carried at the meet.
“The environment at this year’s conference meet was very positive and supportive, I could tell my athletes enjoyed being a part of it,” says Hancock. “Although this year was defiantly more competitive, I feel that the new teams added a new dimension to the meet.”
A couple highlights of West Florida’s Team included swims from Anna Macht and Angelina Gallastegui. Macht crushed all of her events at conference as she won the 200 IM in 2:01.62 and achieved an NCAA A cut. She also won the 100 breaststroke (1:02.66) and placed third in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.78). Gallastegui had a breakout meet by winning the mile (16:55.05) and placing second in both the 1000 (10:07.37) and 500 freestyle (4:58.25).
Hancock predicts that West Florida will take anywhere from six to 10 girls to NCAAs this year.
On the men’s side of the competition, Delta State stole the conference champion title for the first time since 2003. Head Coach Dan’l Murray was awarded Men’s Coach of the Year, while Matteo Fraschi and Fabrice Wendel were titled NSISC Swimmers of the Year along with St. Cloud State’s Alex Bryson. Fraschi, Vlad Zinca, Max Pendall and Yvan Nys were a few of Delta’s top male competitors.
Tight Races
On the the women’s side, the competition was fierce with nine teams racing for the title.
Delta State’s Melanie Tombers had an outstanding meet. She won the 400 IM with a 4:19.49, which qualified her for an NCAA A cut. Tombers also claimed a victory in the 1000 freestyle (10:06.09) and placed second in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.48).
Delta State’s Anastasia Klyarovskaya sped past the competition and won both backstroke events. She swam the 100 backstroke in 55.55 and the 200 backstroke in 1:58.70.
Henderson State’s Jeanne Miller swept both butterfly events with impressive times of 55.64 in the 100 butterfly and 2:02.65 in the 200. As a result Miller broke the NSISC record (2:02.77) in the 200 butterfly.
In the men’s distance races, St. Cloud’s Alex Bryson had a fantastic conference as he claimed victories in the mile (15:30.65), the 1000 freestyle (9:14.54) and 500 freestyle (4:27.61). In the 200 IM, Fraschi took the win with a 1:49.80, while Cody Lavoie took second in both the 200 (1:50.30) and 400 (3:56.94) IM. Delta State’s men’s relays were excellent and swept every relay at the meet. Henderson State’s men’s team also stepped up and challenged the other teams with solid competition.
Overall, NSISC conference saw some incredible talent this year. Athletes will now begin off-season or continue training for NCAAs which will be held in Indianapolis, Ind. from March 10-14.