DANVILLE, Ky. (February 15, 2025) – Behind a pair of individual wins and top-finishers in the finals, Rhodes won its second-straight Southern Athletic Association Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship.
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
The Lynx totaled 1018 points over the four-day event, hosted at Centre’s Champions Hall in Danville, Kentucky. The score was the second highest in SAA men’s championship history, trailing only BSC’s 1070 in 2018. Centre finished runner-up with 952.5 points while Berry was third with 507.5.
Berry’s Nick Fonzo repeated as the High-Point Swimmer of the Meet, accounting for 60 points. The sophomore was last season’s High-Point Swimmer and Newcomer of the Year. Avery Balch of Centre swept the 1-meter and 3-meter boards to win the High-Point Diver of the Year award. Brady Miller of Centre took Newcomer of the Year honors, winning two events and scoring 56 points. Led by Mark Fino, Sewanee was voted the Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year and Centre was the Diving Coaching Staff of the Year, headed by Woody Franklin.
Jack Whitten in the 200 breaststroke (1:59.85) and Liam Ashton in the 200 butterfly (1:52.24) were the two Lynx winners. Miller of Centre set a new meet record in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 15:39.90 and Fonzo won the 200 backstroke.
The championship was capped with a thrilling 400 freestyle relay as Sewanee, seeded fourth going into the final, led from wire-to-wire and captured an improbable victory. The team of Andrew Olsen, Carter Nabors, Henry Lindeman, and Josh Kim stopped the clock in 3:05.02, .27 seconds ahead of second place Rhodes.
DAY 3 RECAP
DANVILLE, Ky. (February 14, 2025) – After winning a thrilling 400 medley relay to cap its day, Rhodes jumped out to a comfortable lead after the third day of the SAA Swimming & Diving Championship.
The Lynx total 681.5 points to 620.5 by second place Centre. Berry is third with 378.5 while Sewanee (324.5) and Hendrix (242.5) round out the top-five.
Philip Mu was the lone individual winner for the Lynx, taking gold in the 400 IM with a time of 4:04.71. Ethan Whiting of Berry was second (4:08.32) and Max Milburn of Rhodes third (4:08.43).
The 100 butterfly went to Hendrix as Zane Shaner posted a time of 49.76. Jonas Hostetler of Rhodes stopped the clock at 50.06 in second and third place Liam Ashton gave the Lynx another big score with a time of 50.54.
Andrew Olsen from Sewanee won the 200 free in 1:39.50, out touching Daniel Snyder of Rhodes in second at 1:40.25. Centre’s Brady Miller was third in 1:41.19.
The 100 breaststroke featured a meet record as Centre’s Tiernan Moore won in a time of 54.49. Rhodes Jack Whitten was second (54.89) and teammate Benji Cummings third (55.98).
Nick Fonzo of Berry defended his championship in the 100 backstroke, clocking 49.12. Rhodes Josh Denckhoff (50.29) was second and Mu of Rhodes was third (51.52).
The thrilling conclusion to of the day came down to the 400 medley relay. The quartet of Denckhoff, Whitten, Hostetler, and Nick Knust powered their to a gold medal, winning in 3:20.47. Berry was second (3:21.63) and Sewanee third (3:24.57).
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) – Behind a big showing from the Centre divers, the Colonels pulled to within three points of leader Rhodes after day two of the SAA Swimming & Diving Championship. Berry also enjoyed a banner day with two individual titles and a relay win.
Defending champion Rhodes leads the way, racking up 360.5 points halfway through the championship. The Colonels sit second with a score of 357.5 while Berry is third with 221.5 points.
Centre took the top four spots and six of the eight scoring positions in the men’s 1-meter dive to highlight their day. Avery Balch won behind a spectacular final dive, finishing with a score of 468.45. Garret George was second (463.15) and Justin Toth finished third (463.05). The Colonels scored 92 points in the event while Rhodes grabbed the other 26.
First year Brady Miller of Centre won the 500 free with a NCAA B-cut time of 4:29.87. Rhodes senior Daniel Snyder was second in 4:38.32 and teammate Will Wertenberger finished third in 4:41.09.
Nick Fonzo of Berry pulled away on the final length of the 200 IM to post a winning time of 1:52.40. Centre’s Tiernan Moore was second in 1:53.58 and Rhodes’ Francesco Assalone was third with a time of 1:53.85.
Sam Tate gave the Vikings back to gold medals, winning the 50 free with a time of 20.90. Millsaps Benjamin Anderson took second in 21.05 and Jonas Hostetler of Rhodes was third (21.21).
Thursday night closed with Berry winning the 200 free relay that saw the top three spots finish all within a second of each other. Fonzo, Tate, John Cook, and Evan Pelletier battled back on the anchor leg and won in a time of 1:23.33. Rhodes was right behind with a time of 1:23.85 while Centre was third in 1:24.34.
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) – From the top row of Champions Hall at Centre, Churchill Downs bugler Steve Buttleman played his iconic call to post and gave the start of the 2025 SAA Swimming & Diving Championships a Kentucky flair on Wednesday. After 12 years in Birmingham, Centre is hosting the event for the first time in conference history.
The visitors from Memphis owned the night as Rhodes won both relays to take a day one lead in the team standings. The defending champion Lynx totaled 112 points on the day while Centre is second with 94 points. Berry is third with 92 points, followed by Sewanee (82) and Hendrix (72) rounding out the top-five.
In the 200 medley relay, the quartet of Josh Denckhoff, Jack Whitten, Jonas Hostetler, and Nick Kunst posted a time of 1:30.70 in a Rhodes winning effort. Berry was second with a time of 1:31.04 and Sewanee third (1:31.87).
Anchor leg Daniel Snyder delivered a championship performance for the Lynx 800 free relay squad, joining Max Milburn, Philip Mu, and Denckhoff to stop the clock at 6:49.55. Berry was runner-up in 6:52.32 and Centre right behind in third, clocking 6:52.95.
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.