DANVILLE, Ky. (February 14, 2025) – Rhodes won six events, but Centre’s depth was the story as the Colonels took over the lead heading into the final day of the SAA Women’s Swimming &. Diving Championship.
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Centre has racked up 701 points to lead two-time defending champion Rhodes with a score of 692.6. Sewanee is third (408.5) while Berry (281) and Millsaps (183) round out the top-five.
Callie West’s meet record in the 100 butterfly highlighted the banner day for Centre. The senior posted a winning time of 55.36 and earned a big NCAA B-cut time. Rhodes’ Eliza Hulverson (56.82) was second and Berry’s Sarabeth Brown of Berry third (58.20).
Kate Pierros of Rhodes started the finals session with a win in the 400 IM, posting a time of 4:25.96. Centre’s Cate Coartney was second (4:40.28) and Sewanee’s Ella Deitch third (4:41.03).
Adeline Carroll gave Rhodes a second individual title with a win in the 200 free, clocking 1:53.05. Mary-Louise Lemieux scored big points for Sewanee with a runner-up finish (1:54.79), and Rhodes’ Taylor McNernery was third (1:55.51).
Paxton Smythe added to Rhodes gold medal count, winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.59. Teammate Autumn Burns was second (1:04.90) and Kat Burns of Millsaps earned third place (1:06.25).
Another gold for the Lynx came courtesy of Gracie Shapard, winning the 100 backstroke in 56.68. Caroline Lee from Centre was second (57.49) and teammate Ava Fears took third (58.98).
Lucy Verwys of Rhodes wrapped up Diver of the Year honors, winning the 3-meter board with a total of 353.85. Katie Walker of Sewanee was awarded 332.65 points and took second while Sara Jean Postle of Centre was third (326.0).
The Lynx wrapped up their day by winning the 400 medley relay in a meet record time. Shapard, Smythe, Hulverson, and Carroll made it to the record board with a time of 3:51.21. Centre was second in 3:59.24 and Sewanee third (4:01.87).
The final day of the SAA Swimming & Diving Championships begins with prelims at 10am on Saturday, February 15. Finals are slated to begin at 6pm.
Day 2 RECAP
DANVILLE, Ky. (February 13, 2025) – Rhodes added to its win total with two more individual golds and a relay win while Callie West of Centre won the 50 free for the fourth-straight season, highlighting the second day of the SAA Swimming & Diving Championship.
The two-time defending champion Lynx lead the team standings midway through the event, totaling 361.5 points. Centre stands in second with a score of 344 while Sewanee is third (234.5).
Taylor McNerney started the finals with a win in the 500 free, stopping the clock at 5:10.02. Mary-Louise Lemieux of Sewanee was runner-up in 5:12.32 and Centre’s Katelynn Stanczyk took third (5:13.31). Adeline Carroll kept the Rhodes march to the top of the podium going, winning the 200 IM in a NCAA B-cut time of 2:04.76. Teammate Gracie Shapard was second in 2:08.14 and Kate Pierros third in 2:08.93. Rhodes scored 81 points in the event with the top four finishers and also a sixth place finish in the championship final.
Centre responded to Rhodes big event by dominating the 50 free, sweeping the top-three spots. West capped her decorated career in the event, winning in a meet record and NCAA B-cut time of 23.57. The Colonels Olivia Headley was second (23.79) and Caroline Lee (23.86) finished third.
Rhodes capped the day with a thrilling win in the 200 free relay as Eliza Hulverson, Paxton Smythe, Shapard, and Carroll teamed to win in 1:35.46. Centre was just out-touched at the wall, taking second in 1:35.59. Sewanee was third with a time of 1:37.43.
The day three action will begin with prelims at 10am ET on Friday, February 14. Fans can follow the action live with links on Championship Central at SAA-Sports.com.
DAY 1 RECAP
DANVILLE, Ky. (February 12, 2025) – Two-time defending champion Rhodes took a big first step towards a third title, sweeping the day one events to start the SAA Swimming & Diving Championship.
The Lynx totaled 148 points through three events while Centre is right on their heels, sitting second with 144 points. Sewanee is third with a score of 114 while Millsaps (64) and Berry (60) round out the top-five.
The event is being held for the first time at Centre’s Champions Hall in Danville, Kentucky.
Rhodes set the tone in the first event, establishing a new meet record in the 200 medley relay as Gracie Shapard, Paxton Smythe, Taylor McNerney, and Eliza Hulverson stopped the clock at 1:44.75. Centre was second in 1:45.33. Both times were faster than the previous meet record of 1:45.76, set by Rhodes in 2023. Sewanee was third in the event with a time of 1:48.39.
The divers then took to the pool with first year Lucy Verwys of Rhodes winning the 1-meter championship, posting a score of 381.45. Centre’s Erin Dannemiller was second (352.15) and Katie Walker of Sewanee third (327.00).
The day concluded with a thrilling 800 free relay that saw Rhodes anchor Adeline Carroll lead a comeback victory, joining teammates MacKenzie Roach, McNerney, and Annie Murer to post a time of 7:41.91. Centre was second in 7:43.89 and Sewanee third, stopping the clock at 7:59.62.
Day two action will begin with prelims at 10am ET on Thursday, February 13. Fans can follow the action live with links on Championship Central at SAA-Sports.com.