Before diving into nationwide championships, Tennessee swim hosted its annual Last Chance Meet. The occasion offered the possibility for swimmers to shave off time in an try to fulfill qualifying marks for the NCAA Championships.
The Vols completed second within the meet, managing to attain 156 factors to claim themselves earlier than NCAAs. However, their placement wasn’t the main target of the weekend.
In previous seasons, the NCAA had two ranges of {qualifications}. The main, automated minimize is the “A,” and the provisional is the “B.” However, this yr, the athletes solely have one automated minimize to try for.
McKenzie Siroky arguably had the best enchancment, attaining a season-best in her secondary occasion of the 200-yard breaststroke. Though she’s devoted a lot of her coaching to the 100-yard breaststroke, she nonetheless managed to earn a blazing 2:09.70 within the 200-yard.
Sophomore standout Ben Bricca made a blinding case earlier than his first championship. Bricca competed in each the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke all through his second season, distinguishing himself as an exemplary swimmer. After making the finals in all of his occasions in the course of the SEC Championships, Bricca was proper on the qualifying time within the 200-yard.
Bricca went into the Last Chance Meet with willpower, competing within the occasion two occasions earlier than lastly making it on his third attempt. The sophomore completed in a blazing 1:40.21, a brand new lifetime greatest, boasting a brand new time and inserting fifth in Tennessee’s all-time record. This will likely be Bricca’s first NCAA championship.
Butterfly specialist Emily Brown completed her 500-yard freestyle in a 4:42.57, including to her lengthy record of NCAA {qualifications}. She already has the 200 and 400-yard IM below her belt, in addition to the 200-yard butterfly.
Lexi Stephens completed first towards her Virginia Tech competitors, scoring 20 factors for the Vols and ending in 1:53.32. Stephens capped off the meet with a brand new lifetime greatest and a seventh-place spot in Tennessee’s prime 10, additionally managing a brand new NCAA minimize.
Emily Armen moved up the ranks within the 100-yard freestyle, coming again and qualifying in timed finals of the occasion with a lifetime better of 47.63. Her time positioned fourth amongst Tennessee’s prime 10.
Divers Thomas Ciprik (361.88) and Frazer Tavener (312.08) went 1-2 within the platform dive. Ciprik and Tavener are boasting private information within the occasion, and each of them are incomes spots on Tennessee’s zone staff.
Aiden Hill boasted a 46.89-second time within the 100-yard butterfly, competing the occasion three separate occasions all through the invite, together with the 50-yard and 200-yard butterfly. Hill managed season bests and podium finishes throughout the board.
Tori Brostowitz additionally managed two podium finishes in each the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard IM. The junior completed the meet with each season and lifelong bests.
Laura Littlejohn shone for the Lady Vols, too. The junior competed within the 50-yard and 100-yard butterfly, together with the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle. Littlejohn achieved a private greatest and received within the 100-yard butterfly finals with a 53.70-second time. Julianna Bocska additionally had an amazing exhibiting within the freestyle, incomes a brand new private greatest of twenty-two.29 to position first within the 50-yard.
Milly Leonard exemplified her versatility all through the meet, having competed within the 500-yard and 200-yard freestyle, in addition to the 50-yard, 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke. Leonard earned a personal-best end within the 100-yard breaststroke finals with a 1:02.15.
The subsequent competitors for the Vols will happen on Sunday, March 8, in Athens, Georgia, the place the Vol divers will likely be competing within the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships.