Last weekend the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams competed in the NCAC Championship meet at Denison University and had many finals competitors.

Head coach Kirk Kumbier said the team did well overall and did a nice job supporting each other.

“Everyone knows what people are swimming and what they are aiming for and we are aware of their goals,” Garrett Devenney, ’16, said. “We help each other at practice and cheered each other on at championships.”

The team was working on relays as championships approached in hopes of achieving goals.

“The team did a nice job swimming into the final heats and we had multiple swimmers make it to A-Finals and our divers made finals for one and three meter,” Kumbier said.

The men’s team placed ninth overall, placing in the same spot as last year. The women placed seventh, falling one place from last year.

“We have been practicing since September with morning and afternoon practices then we had the Florida training trip,” Devenney said. “There was a lot of gruelling practice but it pays off.”

Devenney placed eighth in the 1650 free with a time of 16:27.67, made B-Final in the 400 I.M. with a time of 4:23.48, and scored in the 500 free in championships.

“It will be nice to focus on other things and have free time,” Devenney said. “I also want to get in shape for next season.”

Erica Bryson, ’15, said the end of the season and her time as a collegiate athlete has been bittersweet.

“It’s been an emotional roller coaster, my teammates have been by my side and that will be the hardest part to let go,” Bryson said.

Bryson finished eighth in the 200 fly with a personal best of 2:08.96 and sixteenth in the 1650 free with a time of 18:41.63.

The team had many personal bests and Julianne Reed, ’18, broke two records. Reed set pool records in the 100 back, with a 58.67, and in the 100 fly, with a 58.10. Reed also finished sixteenth in the 100 free placing her in the B-Final where she swam a 53.68.

“In terms of racing we improved overall,” Kumbier said. “Julianne broke two school records and we just missed the 200 relay record we were shooting for.”

Kumbier said for the team a successful season is one where the team is on fire and relays are stepping up.

“A successful season is staying positive through the season and dropping time, but it’s not always about that,” Devenney said.

Though the conference competition is over, a few members of the team will be travelling to the Kenyon “Fast Chance” meet on Saturday, Feb. 21 for another opportunity to drop time and proceed to the NCAA Championships.