NAIA Swimming Progresses Powerfully Through the Season

By Lileana Pearson, Swimming World College Intern

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) swimming is in full swing as it takes on December. In the past week, we have seen phenomenal competition that is only progressing.

Impact swimmers in the NAIA:

Marc Sambolin, Oklahoma Baptist: Marc is a phenomenal freshman swimmer who is currently ranked 5th at a 20.86 in the 50 free, 4th in the 100 free with a 45.89, and 3rd in the 100 fly with a 50.23. Sambolin from Montclair New Jersey is climbing the ranks from last week where he made no appearance in the top five to now holding three top five rankings.

Charlotte Parent, Cumberlands: Currently ranked 3rd in the 200 free with a 1:54.58, 2nd in the 100 fly with a 58.58, 1st in the 200 IM with a 2:06.40, and 1st in the 400 IM with a 4:32.26, Parent is a well rounded athlete hailing from Braine-I’Alleud, Belgium.

Top Times:

Freestyle:

Matheus Montarroyos from West Virginia Tech is leaving a strong impression when it comes to freestyle events. Sophomore Montarroyos is expected to continue to climb the ranks in his next two years of swimming and be formidable competition. Another sophomore, Courtney Hayward from Brenau is making an appearance in four of the six freestyle events, and is bringing in personal bests at each meet she swims this season.

50 Freestyle Men:
1 David Lambert, Saint Andrews, 20.07
2 Logan Lassley, Oklahoma Baptist, 20.59
3 Nathan Lethbridge, Union, 20.80
4 Josiah Morales, Wayland Baptist, 20.84
5 Marc Sambolin, Oklahoma Baptist, 20.86

100 Freestyle Men:
1 Daniel Ramirez, Oklahoma Baptist, 44.96
2 David Lambert, Saint Andrews, 45.26
3 Simon Pheasant, Olivet Nazarene, 45.57
4 Marc Sambolin, Oklahoma Baptist, 45.89
5 Joel Ax, SCAD, 45.90

200 Freestyle Men:
1 Joel Ax, SCAD, 1:40.35
2 Vladislav Khoroletc, Cumberland, 1:41.66
3 Javier Sossa, Oklahoma Baptist, 1:42.63
4 Matheus Montarroyos, West Virginia Tech, 1:42.71
5 Karl Hegwein, SCAD, 1:42.85

500 Freestyle Men:
1 Joel Ax, SCAD, 4:30.52
2 Matheus Montarroyos, West Virginia Tech, 4:37.95
3 Dalton Baxter, Union, 4:38.67
4 Bradley Moore, Union, 4:38.77
5 Sam Borgman, Olivet Nazarene, 4:41.75

1000 Freestyle Men:
1 Joel Ax, SCAD, 9:37.77
2 Sam Bourgma, Olivet Nazarene, 9:42.33
3 Hunter Sa-Nguansap, Concordia, 9:54.93
4 Laszlo Perlaky, Concordia, 9:55.58
5 Charles Bennett, Olivet Nazarene, 9:58.27

1650 Freestyle Men:
1 Joel Ax, SCAD, 15:45.50
2 Dalton Baxter, Union, 16:13.81
3 Bradley Moore, Union, 16:15.00
4 Matheus Montarroyos, West Virginia Tech, 16:32.35
5 Laszlo Perlaky, Concordia, 16:43.25

50 Freestyle Women:
1 Megan Leckich, Concordia, 22.49
2 Callie Harrigan, Union, 23.87
3 Laura Galarza, Oklahoma Baptist, 24.07
4 Brooke Roy, Concordia, 24.32
5 Julie Wood, SCAD, 24.36

100 Freestyle Women:
1 Callie Harrigan, Union, 51.26
2 Laura Galarza, Oklahoma Baptist, 52.31
3 Eugenia Tofano, Olivet Nazarene, 53.26
4 Melissa Peplinski, Cumberland, 53.30
5 Andrea Antonissen, Oklahoma Baptist, 53.47

200 Freestyle Women:
1 Callie Harrigan, Union, 1:52.12
2 Courtney Hayward, Brenau, 1:54.29
3 Charlotte Parent, Cumberland, 1:54.58
4 Haley Thompson, SCAD, 1:55.88
5 Rosalee Santa Ane, Azusa Pacific, 1:55.98

500 Freestyle Women:
1 Rosalee Santa Ane, Azusa Pacific, 5:01.04
2 Caroline Lepesant, SCAD, 5:03.04
3 Courtney Hayward, Brenau, 5:03.88
4 Callie Harrigan, Union, 5:07.17
5 Ella Kleinschmidt, Brenau, 5:12.05

1000 Freestyle Women:
1 Rosalee Santa Ane, Azusa Pacific, 10:18.41
2 Caroline Lepesant, SCAD, 10:40.33
3 Laura Bryant, Olivet Nazarene, 10:47.16
4 Courtney Hayward, Brenau, 10:47.48
5 Hayley Ronci, Olivet Nazarene, 11:00.03

1650 Freestyle Women:
1 Courtney Hayward, Brenau, 17:02.72
2 Caroline Lepesant, SCAD, 17:29.65
3 Rosalee Santa Ane, Azusa Pacific, 17:35.26
4 Grace Van Ryckeghem, Cumberland, 17:42.84
5 Ella Kleinschmidt, Brenau, 18:09.73

Backstroke:

Officially giving Krastev a run for his money, Vladislav Khoroletc is a Cumberland swimmer that is proving he has what it takes to be a top competitor for NAIA swimming. Diana Tobo from Emmanuel is an impressive rival in the 100 back and is holding her own in the 200 as well, providing a reputation her team can stand behind.

100 Backstroke Men:
1 Georgi Krastev, Saint Andrews, 49.47
2 Karl Hegwein, SCAD, 50.92
3 Daniel Ramirez, Oklahoma Baptist, 51.12
4 Vladislav Khoroletc, Cumberland, 51:48
5 Andrew Nelson, Oklahoma Baptist, 52.23

200 Backstroke Men:
1 Vladislav Khoroletc, Cumberland, 1:50.91
2 Georgi Krastev, Saint Andrews, 1:51.44
3 Jacqueline Anderson, Olivet Nazarene, 1:51.88
4 Tyler Prescott, SCAD, 1:51.90
5 Karl Hegwein, SCAD, 1:52.02

100 Backstroke Women:
1 Talia Sola, Brenau 56.76
2 Ines Remersaro, Oklahoma Baptist, 59.41
3 Julie Woody, SCAD, 59.50
4 Francine Meyer, West Virginia Tech, 59.58
5 Diana Tobo, Emmanuel, 59.72

200 Backstroke Women:
1 Talia Sola, Brenau, 2:02.08
2 Ines Remersaro, Oklahoma Baptist, 2:05.60
3 Diana Tobo, Emmanuel, 2:05.86
4 Tiffany Ray, Olivet Nazarene, 2:06.60
5 Brittany Litke, Cumberland, 2:08.60

Breaststroke:

Saint Andrews provides us with Elliot Boon, an international student that is holding two solid #5 rankings in both backstroke events. Likewise, Jule Stein from Union is holding an impressive #1 in the 100 back and is less than two seconds from doing the same in the 200 back. Both male and female poses the strength to blow through the competition at NAIA Nationals.

100 Breaststroke Men:
1 Fernando Morillas, Oklahoma Baptist, 56.42
2 Hunter Sa-Nguansap, Concordia, 57.23
3 Ryan Frayne, Saint Andrews, 57.74
4 Marc Tahull, Cumberland, 57.90
5 Elliot Boon, Saint Andrews, 58.06

200 Breaststroke Men:
1 Fernando Morillas, Oklahoma Baptist, 2:03.47
2 Hunter Sa-Nguansap, Concordia, 2:04.12
3 Marc Tahull, Cumberland, 2:06.23
4 Ryan Frayne, Saint Andrews, 2:06.35
5 Elliot Boon, Saint Andrews, 2:06.65

100 Breaststroke Women:
1 Jule Stein, Union, 1:06.68
2 Mary Katherine Jabbia, Brenau, 1:07.39
3 Kendra Monnin, West Virginia Tech, 1:07.63
4 Michelle Billeaud, Brenau, 1:07.81
5 Christine Tixier, Biola, 1:08.38

200 Breaststroke Women:
1 Kendra Monnin, West Virginia Tech, 2:23.21
2 Jule Stein, Union, 2:25.09
3 Safiyyah Abdullah, Columbia College, 2:27.24
4 Jessica Wilson, Concordia, 2:27.35
5 Lisa Tixier, Biola, 2:28.83

Butterfly:

Stealing the spotlight this week, Igor Dozortsey, another Cumberland swimmer, is leaving all he has in the pool as he races to a top spot at Nationals. Senior Christine Tixier from Biola is making sure she leaves NAIA swimming with a bang. Currently a two time record holder in the 100 fly, Tixier strives for a third best time as a way to end her college swimming career.

100 Butterfly Men:
1 Nathan Lethbridge, Union, 49.84
2 Igor Dozortsev, Cumberland, 50.28
3 Marc Sambolin, Oklahoma Baptist, 50.32
4 Thalys Caixeta, Cumberland, 50.69
5 Josiah Morales, Wayland Baptist, 50.72

200 Butterfly Men:
1 Daniel Ramirez, Oklahoma Baptist, 1:51.38
2 Frank Tapia, Olivet Nazarene, 1:51.78
3 Joel Ax, SCAD, 1:51.81
4 Igor Dozortsey, Cumberland, 1:52.75
5 Geoffroy Gauneau, West Virginia Tech, 1:53. 25

100 Butterfly Women:
1 Christine Tixier, Biola, 56.29
2 Charlotte Parent, Cumberland, 58.58
3 Michelle Billeaud, Brenau, 57.92
4 Francine Meyer, West Virginia Tech, 58.22
5 Shannon Cummings, SCAD, 58.36

200 Butterfly Women:
1 Christian Tixier, Biola, 2:07.46
2 Mikala Nelson, Concordia, 2:08.19
3 Laura Stephenson, Lindsey Wilson, 2:09.57
4 Samantha Benson, SCAD, 2:09.69
5 Baliee Blankemeier, Concordia, 2:09.88

IM:

Ryan Frayne is the next standout Saint Andrews swimmer. Holding firm in both IM events, Frayne is dropping huge amounts of time so he can continue to be seen in the top five. Making appearances in other events but truly shining in the 400 IM, Bailee Blankemeier from Concordia is in a solid position to climb the ranks and prove she is a driven swimmer.

200 IM Men:
1 Joel Ax, SCAD, 1:53.13
2 Marc Tuhall, Cumberland, 1:53.27
3 Camillo Orrego Mendoza, Emmanuel, 1:54.01
4 Hunter Sa-Nguansap, Concordia, 1:54.48
5 Ryan Frayne, Saint Andrews, 1:55.25

400 IM Men:
1 Joel Ax, SCAD, 4:01.11
2 Hunter Sa-Nguansap, Concordia, 4:02.28
3 Joseph Brinkman, Cumberland, 4:04.63
4 Camillo Orrego Mendoza, Emmanuel, 4:04.65
5 Ryan Frayne, Saint Andrews, 4:05.42

200 IM Women:
1 Charlotte Parent, Cumberland, 2:06.40
2 Laura Stephenson, Lindsey Wilson, 2:08.82
3 Kendra Monnin, West Virginia Tech, 2:10.43
4 Tiffany Ray, Olivet Nazarene, 2:11.02
5 Lisa Tixier, Biola, 2:11.23

400 IM Women:
1 Charlotte Parent, Cumberland, 4:32.26
2 Courtney Hayward, Brenau, 4:33.71
3 Lisa Tixier, Biola, 4:37.17
4 Christine Tixier, Biola, 4:37.40
5 Bailee Blankemeier, Concordia, 4:37.44

Relays:

At the Union Invitational, Cumberland took the opportunity to make the most of its relays and set themselves up for good seeding at NAIA Nationals. They appear in the top rakings of every relay event in both men and women and it will take a lot for them to be knocked out of the following events after they have provided such impressive times.

200 Freestyle Men:
1 Saint Andrews, 1:23.49
2 Olivet Nazarene, 1:24.35
3 SCAD, 1:24.49
4 Oklahoma Baptist, 1:25.19
5 Cumberland, 1:25.23

400 Freestyle Men:
1 Olivet Nazarene, 3:03.73
2 SCAD, 3:06.59
3 Cumberland, 3:07.24
4 West Virginia Tech, 3:07.50
5 Saint Andrews, 1:07.71

800 Freestyle Men:
1 Cumberland, 6:56.47
2 Olivet Nazarene, 6:56.68
3 West Virginia Tech, 6:59.37
4 Union, 7:00.98
5 Oklahoma Baptist, 7:01.50

200 Medley Relay Men:
1 Saint Andrews, 1:32.47
2 Olivet Nazarene, 1:34.55
3 SCAD, 1:35.05
4 Cumberland, 37.79
5 Oklahoma Baptist, 1:35.97

400 Medley Relay Men:
1 Saint Andrews, 3:26.17
2 Cumberland, 3:27.41
3 Oklahoma Baptist, 3:27.68
4 Olivet Nazarene, 3:28.39
5 Wayland Baptist, 3:29.53

200 Freestyle Relay Women:
1 Oklahoma Baptist, 1:38.00
2 Cumberland, 1:38.08
3 SCAD, 1:39.48
4 Azusa Pacific, 1:39.84
5 Union, 1:40.28

400 Freestyle Relay Women:
1 Cumberland, 3:32.88
2 Lindenwood-Belleville, 3:34.01
3 Oklahoma Baptist, 3:34.88
4 Olivet Nazarene, 3:36.83
5 Union, 3:36.90

800 Freestyle Relay Women:
1 Cumberland, 7:46.57
2 Azusa Pacific, 7:49.96
3 SCAD, 7:52.47
4 Brenau, 7:55.05
5 Union, 7:55.53

200 Medley Relay Women:
1 Brenau, 1:49.27
2 Cumberland, 1:49.94
3 Union, 1:50.23
4 SCAD, 1:51.86
5 Olivet Nazarene, 1:51.87

400 Medley Relay Women:
1 Cumberland, 3:58.63
2 Brenau, 3:58.88
3 Union, 4:01.20
4 Olivet Nazarene, 4:04.58
5 Biola, 4:05.49

Coming Up Next In NAIA:

December is the time that all teams have a love-hate relationship with. Though you won’t see any more competition until January, that doesn’t mean that teams aren’t putting their time with the pool in. Winter training and training trips are finally here. With grueling doubles, dryland workouts and time put into the weight room, the NAIA will be at its most powerful as we reenter competition next month.

Be prepared to witness incredible swimming from top teams such as Emmanuel December 31, SCAD January 10, Cumberland January 17, Azusa Pacific January 17 and much more. Now is the time, if any, to be focus as conferences draw closer and the countdown Nationals begins.

Lileana Pearson is a freshman swimmer at Lindsey Wilson College at the NAIA level. She is currently a journalism major.

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Sheila lynch

9 years ago

Great information