BIRMINGHAM, ALA. (FEBRUARY 9, 2024) – Rhodes powered its way to a second-straight Southern Athletic Association Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship on Saturday, setting a new conference record for points in the meet.
Complete Final Results | SAA Championship Central
The Lynx totaled 1010 points to out-distance runner-up Centre by 83 points (923). Birmingham-Southern was third with 654.5 and Berry took fourth (558.5). Hendrix (300) in fifth, Sewanee (253) in sixth, and Millsaps (192) in seventh rounded out the championship field.
Rhodes Taylor McNerney was named the Newcomer of the Year and teammate Anabelle Morle earned women’s High-point Diver of the Year honors. Lynx leader Steve Webb was voted the SAA Coach of the Year.
Callie West of Centre earned the High-point Swimmer of the Year Award.
McNerney won the 1650 free to start the day, clocking 17:41.88. Anneliese Thomas (Centre) was second in 17:58.67 and teammate Greer Manger was third with a time of 18:02.25.
Rhodes swept the 200 back stroke podium, led by winner Gracie Shapard in 2:04.46. Marissa Mahue was second in 2:06.99 and Taylor Albrecht third (2:07.87).
West locked up the swimmer of the meet award by winning the 100 freestyle in 51.77. Rhodes took the next two spots with Eliza Hulverson (51.78) in second and Paxton Smythe (53.14) in third.
The Lynx scored big in the 200 breaststroke, taking the top four spots. Adeline Carroll was the winner in 2:21.20 with Autumn Burns right behind in 2:21.73. MacKenzie Roach earned bronze in 2:24.62.
Rhodes Caroline Netolicky won the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:09.34. Amelia Cooper of BSC was second in 2:11.57 and Ava Fears of Centre third in 2:11.64.
The evening for Rhodes finished with a bang as the 400 freestyle relay team of Carroll, Smythe, Roach, and Hulverson teamed to win in 3:27.54. Centre was second in 3:29.31 and Sewanee finished third with a time of 3:25.20.
Day 3 Rcap
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. (FEBRUARY 9, 2024) – Another strong day from Rhodes and Centre has made it a two-team race heading into the final day of the SAA Swimming & Diving Championship.
Day 3 Complete Results | SAA Championship Central
Rhodes won three events and a relay on Friday night and tops the field with 670 points. Centre posted two wins and is second with a score of 621. Birmingham-Southern sits third with 383 points while Sewanee (267) and Berry (234.5) round out the top five.
MacKenzie Roach led a medal sweep for the Lynx in 400 IM, touching the wall first in a time of 4:31.32. Caroline Netolicky was second in 4:34.71 and Kate Pierros third in 4:38.07.
Callie West got the Colonels a victory in the 100 butterfly, posting a time of 56.58. Rhodes’ Eliza Hulverson was runner-up in 56.78 and Ava Fears of Centre was third (58.21). Greer Manger picked up another Centre victory, winning the 200 free with a time of 1:52.79. Adeline Carroll of Rhodes was second in 1:53.04 and teammate Taylor McNerney finished third (1:54.93).
Rhodes then finished the night with a pair of individual victories and a record-breaking relay win. Paxton Smythe won the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.94. The Lynx Autumn Burns was second in 1:05.51 and McKenzie Tucker of Center earned bronze (1:05.96). Gracie Shepard was the winner of the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.68. Centre grabbed the next two spots with Ava Fears finishing second (58.40) and Caroline Lee third (58.88).
The day ended with a bang as Shepard, Smythe, Hulverson and Carroll set a new meet and SAA open record in the 400 medley relay, stopping the clock at 3:49.72. The mark beat their own meet record from last season by nearly three seconds. Centre was second in 3:53.98 and Birmingham-Southern finished third (4:01.92).
Competition for the final day of the SAA Swimming & Diving Championships will begin with 10 a.m. CT prelims in the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, women’s 3-meter dive, and 400 free relay. Fans can catch all the action live on the
SAA Championship Central page.
Day 2 Recap
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 8, 2024) – Rhodes won three events on Thursday and Centre took a pair of gold medals to highlight day 2 of the 2024 SAA Swimming & Diving Championship.
Day 2 Complete Results | SAA Championship Central
The Lynx lead the field with 348 points while the Colonels are second with 326 points. Birmingham-Southern is third at 230 points, Sewanee is fourth (178) and Berry fifth (149.5).
Rhodes’ Anabelle Morle won a thrilling women’s 1-meter dive, posting a score of 362.15. AC Taylor of BSC was a very close second, scoring 361.35. Centre’s Haley Rice took bronze with a score of 342.85.
Taylor McNerney won the 500 free for Rhodes, stopping the clock at 5:05.49. Greer Manger (Centre) was second in 5:07.93 and Caroline Netolicky (Rhodes) took third in 5:09.31.
Rhodes finished 1-2-3-4 in the 200 IM, led by a Adeline Carroll hitting the wall in 2:05.82. Paxton Smythe was right behind in 2:05.90 and Kate Pierros was third (2:09.86).
Callie West of Centre was the 50 free champion, posting a time of 23.69. Teammate Caroline Lee was runner-up in 24.11 and Rhodes’ Eliza Hulverson took third (24.17).
The Colonels ended the night with a victory in the 200 free relay as Lee, Manger, and West teamed with Olivia Headley to post a B-Cut time of 1:35.20. Sewanee was second in 1:37.36 and Rhodes finished third (1:37.93).
Competition for day three of the SAA Swimming & Diving Championships will begin with 10 a.m. CT prelims in the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and men’s 3-meter dive. Finals are set for 6 p.m. CT with those events and the 400 medley relay. Fans can catch all the action live on the
SAA Championship Central page.
DAY 1 RECAP
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 7, 2024) – The Rhodes women started their title defense strong on Wednesday, winning both relays on day one of the 2024 SAA Swimming & Diving Championship.
Day 1 Complete Results | SAA Championship Central
The Lynx totaled 112 points to sit ahead of second place Centre (98) and third place Birmingham-Southern (86). Sewanee and Berry are tied for fourth with 72 points while Hendrix (64) and Millsaps (58) round out the field.
The quartet of Gracie Shepard, Paxton Smythe, Eliza Hulverson, and Adeline Carroll won the 200 medley relay for Rhodes with a time of 1:45.81, just .05 seconds off their own meet record. Berry was second in 1:49.62 and Centre third (1:49.72).
Carroll later joined Caroline Netolicky, Taylor McNearney, and MacKenzie Roach to post a winning time of 7:41.39 in the 800 free relay to close the night. Centre was second in 7:46.72 and Birmingham-Southern took the bronze with a time of 7:52.48.