10 Swimmers To Watch At The CAA Championships

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Photo Courtesy: William and Mary Athletics

The 2017 Colonial Athletic Association men’s and women’s Swimming and Diving Championships take place February 22-25 at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

In 2016, the William and Mary men’s and women’s team both won the meet. This year, the Tribe men will seek to three-peat as champions while the women will look to win their second-consecutive team title.

2017 CAA Championships Psych Sheets – Results

Click here for the meet homepage.

5 Women to Watch:

1. Rachel Bernhardt
As one of two CAA student-athletes to advance to NCAAs last season, the Drexel senior is ready for another fast meet. She enters the meet as the top seed in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes with NCAA B cuts in both. Last year, the CAA Swimmer of the Year became the first Dragon woman to ever win a conference event and is the heavy favorite to defend her titles.

2. Corie Morton
The Towson junior will seek to claim the conference distance crown as she’s the top seed in both the 500 and 1650. She has improved tremendously this year; last year, she didn’t final in the 500. In 2016, she finished tenth in the mile and she enters the meet with a time that’s 24 seconds faster than her performance a year ago.

3. Alexa Kutch
The Drexel rookie is sure to make an impact at her first college championships as she’s the top seed in both backstroke events. In the longer race, she’s three seconds ahead of the rest of the field and already under the previous league and meet record. The freshman will be the crucial leadoff leg as both of Drexel’s medley relays are seeded first.

4. Meagan Johnson
UNCW’s Johnson enters the meet with faster seed times than her performances she swam last year. The sophomore is the first seed in the 400 IM after finishing 10th in the event in 2016. She’s also seeded third in the 500 free and second in the 200 fly.

5. Olivia Lehman
Last year, the James Madison diver took gold on 1m and silver on 3m en route to being named the CAA Diver of the Year. The senior has already earned weekly conference honors four times this season and is the heavy favorite to sweep both diving events. Look for some impressive performances from the 2016 NCAA qualifier.

5 Men to Watch:

1. Joseph Eiden
The William and Mary senior is the defending CAA champion in the 200 free, and although the second seed, will be aiming to reclaim his title. The sprinter holds the top seed times in both the 50 and 100 frees and is a key component of the Tribe’s relays.

2. Jack Saunderson
Last year’s CAA Rookie Swimmer of the Year, Saunderson returns as the top seed in both butterfly events. After setting a new meet and league record during his freshman campaign, the Towson sophomore is the heavy favorite to repeat as champion in the 200 fly.

3. Will Ryan
Ryan, a senior at UNCW, is the top seed in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. After finishing second in both events in 2016, he’ll be looking to claim the titles as his own. He’ll be a leader for his team as the top returning point scorer for the Seahawks as he closes out his senior season.

4. Ian Bidwell
Bidwell is sure to play a key role in William and Mary’s quest to three-peat. The freshman enters the meet as the top seed in both the 400 IM and the 1650, as well as holds the second seed in the 500. He has already achieved an NCAA B standard in the individual medley and isn’t too far off in the mile.

5. Jason Arthur
Another freshman to watch out for, the Drexel rookie has already earned three CAA weekly awards this season. He’s the second seed in both the 200 back and the 200 IM and the third seed in the 100 back. Look for Arthur to make a splash at his first collegiate championship meet. 

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Cecilia Mancin
7 years ago

Katie Ledecky?

Mike
Mike
7 years ago
Reply to  Cecilia Mancin

Do you even know where ledecky swims? Not this conference.

Sheree Moran Marsh
7 years ago

Go tribe!

Buddy
Buddy
7 years ago

Cory Camp????

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