LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty swimming & diving team closes out the dual-meet portion of its fall schedule this Saturday, competing at James Madison. Saturday’s meet at Savage Natatorium is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
The Lady Flames bring a 5-2 record into the weekend, after going 4-0 during their first-ever trip to Texas last weekend. James Madison (1-0) opened the season with a 181-116 victory at La Salle on Saturday.
Liberty has been ranked nationally each of the last two weeks, including a current ranking of No. 32 in this week’s CollegeSwimming.com Team Rankings. The Lady Flames are also ranked sixth in the latest CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major Rankings. James Madison is ranked No. 36 inTuesday’s Mid-Major Rankings.
Liberty holds a 2-1 lead in the all-time head-to-head series against James Madison. The Lady Flames won the first two meetings, including a 194-155 victory on Oct. 18, 2014 at the Virginia Tech Swimming & Diving Challenge. James Madison won the last meeting, 212-139, on Jan. 17, 2015 at Savage Natatorium.
The Lady Flames went 4-0 while in Texas, including a pair of wins over Incarnate Word and victories at TCU and North Texas. With their win over TCU, the Lady Flames have now posted at least one win over an opponent from each of the Power Five conferences in program history.
Liberty freshman Brooke Fox was named CCSA Women’s Diver of the Week on Tuesday, her second Diver of the Week award in as many weeks. She set new program records in both the one-meter (236.93) and three-meter (212.10) diving events in a tri-meet at TCU, last Friday. Fox becomes the first Lady Flame to earn back-to-back CCSA weekly honors.
Senior Kendall Hough earned three events victories last weekend. After winning the 100 free in 52.33 at TCU, she swam season-best times to win both the 50 free (23.97) and 100 free (51.79) at North Texas. In 2015, Hough became the fourth swimmer in program history to post three top-three placings at one CCSA Championship meet.
Senior Kristin VanDeventer won both the 1000 free (10:26.68) and 500 free (5:06.68) on Saturday at North Texas. She has swept the distance free events twice this season, also claiming 1000 free and 500 free victories at Campbell.
Freshman Alicia Finnigan has had a standout beginning to her career. On Saturday at North Texas, her winning 200 fly time of 2:03.93 was good for fourth place in program history. She has two victories this season in both the 100 fly and 200 fly, including a season-best 56.66 in the 100 fly at TCU.
Sophomore Prudence Rooker earned two event victories at Campbell to start the season. She won the 100 breaststroke (1:06.87) and 100 free (53.23). At TCU, she won the 100 IM in 57.76, the second-fastest time in program history. She claimed the 200 IM in 2:08.07 at North Texas, Saturday.
Junior Victoria Tschoke earned her second 200 back victory of the season on Saturday, swimming a season-best 2:02.81 at North Texas. On Friday at TCU, she won the 100 back in 56.77.
Sixth-year Head Coach Jake Shellenberger has guided the Lady Flames since the program’s inception. A two-time CCSA Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year, Shellenberger has guided the team to a 60-23 all-time dual meet record, including 35-12 against CCSA opponents.
This year’s roster features 17 returnees and 10 freshmen. Liberty’s returning group of student-athletes includes three conference medalists and four additional swimmers who swam on medal-winning relays at the conference championship meet last year.
A total of 13 returnees scored at the 2015 CCSA Championships. Among Liberty’s returnees, Natalie Beale (100 fly, 200 back), Sarah Browning (1,650 free), Rachel Hoeve (50 free), Kendall Hough (50 free, 100 free, 100 back), Prudence Rooker (100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 IM), Victoria Tschoke (100 back, 200 back, 200 IM), Kristin VanDeventer (200 free, 500 free, 1,650 free) and Hannah Wakeley (500 free, 1,650 free, 200 fly) all posted top-eight finishes last season. Additionally, Ranndi Grubbs and Morgan Noonan have recorded top-eight placings during their careers.
Current Lady Flames with Program Records
1000 Free – Hannah Wakeley (10:06.55; 2/21/15)
1,650 Free – Hannah Wakeley (16:45.43; 2/21/15)
50 Back – Kendall Hough (24.97 – L; 2/18/15)
100 Back – Kendall Hough (53.98; 2/20/15)
1-Meter Diving – Brooke Fox (236.93; 10/9/15)
3-Meter Diving – Brooke Fox (212.10; 10/9/15)
James Madison (1-0)
James Madison opened the 2015-16 season with a 181-116 win at La Salle on Saturday. The Dukes picked up their third straight runner-up finish at the 2015 CAA Championships, scoring 640 points.
The Dukes return four All-CAA swimmers and two all-conference divers. Senior Camilla Czulada placed third at the 2015 CAA meet in the 100 free in an NCAA B cut time of 49.92. Senior Sin Hye Won competed in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke at the 2014 NCAA Championships, before placing third in both the 100 breaststroke (1:01.48) and 200 breaststroke (2:14.90) at the 2015 CAA Championships. Juniors Kristen Zielinski (1:48.53 – 200 free) and Cameron Martin (4:52.14 – 500 free) both placed third at the 2015 conference meet.
Redshirt junior Taryn McLaughlin returns after being named CAA Diver of the Year each of the last two years. She won the one-meter and three-meter diving events at both the 2014 and 2015 CAA Championships. Sophomore Olivia Lehman placed second in three-meter diving and third in one-meter diving at last year’s league meet.
Liberty’s next meet will take place over a month from now, as the Lady Flames are scheduled to compete at the Rutgers Invitational from Nov. 19–22.
Order of Events
- 200 Medley Relay
- 1000 Free
- 200 Free
- 100 Back
- 100 Breast
- 200 Fly
- 50 Free
- 3-Meter Diving
- 100 Free
- 200 Back
- 200 Breast
- 500 Free
- 100 Fly
- 1-Meter Diving
- 200 IM
- 400 Free Relay
Swimming news courtesy of Liberty Swimming & Diving.