Division III Recap: Mid-Season Invites Begin, Familiar NESCAC Faces Return

Photo Courtesy: Kenyon College Athletics

Division III kicked off their Mid-Season invites this weekend, while a number of teams continued their dual meet seasons. The weekend was full of notable swims, and interesting statistics. Here’s a few of many highlights from around the country.

Ohio State Invite

Kenyon sophomore Crile Hart improved on her number one event rankings in the 100 back (54.53), 200 back (1:57.98), and 200 IM (2:01.03). She also added the country’s fastest 100 fly (55.17).

While they are the first of Division III’s top programs to race an invite this fall, the Ladies hold five of the nation’s top eight times in the 100 freestyle, led by Abby Wilson (50.64), and followed closely by Hart (50.74). They have a quartet of the six quickest 200 free times again led by senior Wilson (1:50.07) and her classmate Hannah Orbach-Mandel (1:50.90).

Franklin and Marshall Invite

University of Mary Washington senior Jeff Leckrone popped off a lifetime best 2:00.47 200 breaststroke on Saturday. That’s Division III’s fastest time this season, and would have been sixth at NCAAs last year. In his junior season Leckrone was 18th with a prelims time of 2:03.79. He also now holds the third fastest 100 breaststroke, a 55.74, a lifetime best by nearly a full second.

The host team’s sophomore Chris Schiavone put together a pair of nation leading times. The Diplomat went a 20.49 in the 50 free, just .01 faster than Widener senior Aaron Green (20.50). Schiavone also posted a 44.49 in the 100 free, just faster than Saint Vincent senior Jacob Davis (44.56). Green was 45.05 in the 100 free, as the trio went the country’s top three times.

Washington and Lee’s junior breaststroker Emily Hageboeck went season best times in the breaststrokes. Her 200 breaststroke was a 2:17.04, edging nation leader KT Kustritz, who now sits second in 2:17.41.

Hageboeck also turned in the nation’s number seven 100 breaststroke in 1:04.88. Her classmate Ali Macqueen posted a 55.95 100 fly, moving up to second nationally.

York’s Keven Stahl won the 400 IM in 4:02.43, the nation’s number four time. He won the Capital Athletic Conference in 3:59.13 last February.

York’s junior Justine Wantz won the 200 back in 2:02.97. That’s a lifetime best and moving in on the time it took to qualify for Nationals in the event last year.

Phoenix Fall Classic

Photo Courtesy: Patrick Gorski

Chicago put together some top times at home this weekend.

Byrne Litschgi led a one-two-three Chicago finish in the 200 backstroke with a 1:45.07. That’s a pool record and lifetime best for the junior. That time would have finished second at NCAAs last year.

His classmate George Reuter outtouched freshman Nick Ding 1:48.33 to 1:48.77 for the 200 fly victory. Both of those times are under the 2018 NCAA invited time. Ding also won the 200 IM (1:51.22).

The Maroons’ breaststrokers were also on a roll. Reona Yamaguchi clocked a 55.56 100 breaststroke, to move to number two in the country. He also went a 2:03.16 200 breaststroke, the third best mark behind teammate Lance Culjat (2:00.79). Freshman Sam Nickson went a 2:04.29 for the seventh fastest time in the country.

Wheaton senior Brooke Barns won the 100 freestyle in 51.69, just off the time it took to make NCAAs last year, and the country’s fourth fastest time so far this year.

Chicago freshman Sandra Wong clocked a 2:05.75 200 fly and her teammate Hadley Ackerman went a 2:05.87. The duo are now second and third in Division III.

Trinity Tiger Invitational

After setting a school record at an early season dual meet, Trinity (TX) sophomore Mabel Fowler continued to improve at the team’s Tiger Invite this weekend. She won the 200 free in 1:51.49, the 500 free in 4:59.36, and was 2:01.25 in the 200 back. She was just shy of qualifying for NCAAs last year, but looks on track to be in contention this year with that 200 back.

NESCAC

Every NESCAC team got in their first meet (or two) this weekend.

Tufts’ Roger Gu roared back into competition on Sunday, posting a 20.60 in the 50 free. His teammate and one of the country’s leading backstrokers, Kingsley Bowen, posted a 51.28 100 back.

Defending NESCAC swimmer of the year Karl Sarier has the Conference’s top times in two of his primary events. The Bowdoin senior leads in the 100 free (46.63) and 200 free (1:43.33).

After taking the top four spots in the 100 breaststroke at NESCACs last year (with only one senior in that crew), Amherst has added another one. Freshman Gary Sun opened his career with the conference’s top 100, a 58.74. His teammate Sean Mebust leads the 200 breast with a 2:09.55.

Bowdoin senior Sterling Dixon leads the conference in the 200 IM (2:08.48) and the 200 fly (2:08.30). Her sophomore teammate Mary Laurita has the conference’s top 50 (24.60) and 100 (53.91) freestyles and 100 fly (57.59) after weekend number one.

Colby freshman Addie Page opened her collegiate career with a statement. She has the number two 500 free (5:14.94) and 1000 free (10:43.72) in the NESCAC.

After the Tufts men upset Williams for the NESCAC title last year, the Jumbo women seem poised to move up in the Conference this year as well. Their depth shone through this weekend as their F 200 medley relay finished ahead of Middlebury’s B.

The Jumbos have added transfer Amy Socha. While she qualified for NCAAs last year, she was a part of a Kenyon team so strong she wasn’t taken to the meet. Tufts had just one woman at NCAAs last year, and Socha should help grow that group this year, and improve the team’s relay possibilities. This weekend Socha went a 58.88 100 fly, and a 5:19.10 500 free.

Occidental Nearly Upsets CMS

Photo Courtesy: Stephen Carr

The unranked Occidental women led #12 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps going into the final relay of the meet (which also included CalTech) on Saturday.

The Athenas ultimately won, but the Tigers had several impressive dual meet swims along the way. Freshman Emily Driscoll won the 100 backstroke (57.67) and 200 backstroke (2:06.38). Her classmate Cindy Dong topped the 100 (57.48) and 200 fly (2:06.22). Senior Joan Kronick was first to the wall in the 50 (24.43) and 100 (53.85) free.

CMS was without star sprinter Natalia Orbach-Mandel. Freshman Augusta Lewis led the team winning the 100 (1:07.98) and 200 (2:23.85) breaststroke, and the 200 IM (2:09.39).

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Thad

5 years ago

No mention of Franklin and Marshall’s Chris Schiavone posting two of the top times in d3 in the 50 and 100 free? 20.49 and 44.49 deserve some recognition in my opinion.

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Cathleen Pruden

5 years ago

Reply to Thad

Thank you! Those are huge swims. Sorry I missed them- will add! Let me know what else I may have missed!