Swim and dive groups sweep Emory Fall Invitational

The Emory University males’s and girls’s swim and dive groups swept the competitors on the Emory Fall Invitational, held Nov. 8-9. The Eagles posted dominant outcomes throughout each days, incomes 23 occasion wins. Both the boys’s and girls’s groups positioned first with a complete of 707 and 780 factors, respectively. 

On the ladies’s facet, sophomore swimmer Allison Greeneway set the tone early with a win within the 200-yard particular person medley, touching at 2:02.80 to open her dominant weekend. Greenway additionally contributed to a few relay victories, swimming on the successful 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard medley and 200-yard medley relay groups. 

Joining Greenway on the 200-yard freestyle relay staff was sophomore swimmer Caitlin Crysel, who also received particular person 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races. Senior swimmer Penny Celtnieks and junior swimmer Katie Cohen additionally delivered sturdy performances, successful the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard breaststroke, respectively. 

Sophomore swimmer Stephanie Lee, who was a part of a unique 200-yard freestyle relay staff that earned third place, stated the supportive staff ambiance made the meet enjoyable to compete in.  

“Some people had such amazing races that it just brought such high energy,” Lee stated. “Even when I was standing behind the blocks about to race, I could hear people cheering for me and saying my name, it’s really fun.”

For the boys, senior swimmer Henri Bonnault led the staff with dominant victories within the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke occasions. Additionally, graduate swimmer Crow Thorsen took first within the 400-yard particular person medley and sophomore swimmer Ben Pritchard secured the gap title within the mile with a 15:46.79 end. 

Freshman swimmer Carson Kalish received the 200-yard particular person medley and junior swimmer McKee Thorsen earned first place within the 200-yard butterfly. Owen Howell, one other freshman swimmer, stated he turned in one in every of his finest private performances within the 200-yard particular person medley, and that his enchancment within the relays is a results of the coaching distinction between swimming in faculty and highschool.

“I have to attribute that a lot to the work we’re doing with relay starts, which is very different from high school,” Howell stated. “We’re training those a lot, and that’s made a huge difference.”

Not solely coaching, however like Lee, Howell additionally famous the staff setting was a optimistic contributor to their success.

“For the team, just overall, the energy was up,” Howell stated. “Everyone was cheering for each other, celebrating each other’s successes.” 

Assistant coach John Petroff credited the staff’s confidence as a key issue within the Eagles’ success and famous the staff’s bodily conditioning helps them construct momentum this season. 

“Compared to this time last year, the team’s confidence was just a notch higher,” Petroff stated. “People were walking around the deck with a little more self-assurance, and it was reflected in more confident swims. We’re really fit right now, and that is a confidence booster.”

With sturdy early-season performances and rising momentum, the groups have a while off earlier than turning their consideration to post-Thanksgiving break, when they may compete at Denison University (Ohio) from Dec. 4-6 and the divers will head to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the MIT Invitational from Dec. 5-7.

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