NCAA Division III Champion Tara Culibrk Transfers to Pitt for 5th Year

2023 NCAA Division III Champion in the 800 free relay Tara Culibrk is headed to Pitt to use her COVID-19 fifth year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmb6NWqLTU6/

Culibrk spent her first four years at Denison University outside of Columbus, Ohio. Culibrk was a big contributor for Denison at both the conference and NCAA levels during her four years.

During her first NCAAs as a junior, as the 2020 and 2021 meets were canceled, Culibrk made two A finals. She was seventh in the 100 free (50.65), eighth in the 200 free (1:51.16), and finished 12th in the B final of the 50 free (23.40). She also was used on all three of Denison’s freestyle relays. Most notably, their 800 free relay finished second as she led off in a 1:49.83.

At this year’s NCAAs, Culibrk was Denison’s second-highest individual scorer as she score 49 points. She finished second in the 50 free (22.81), third in the 100 free (49.88), and third in the 200 free (1:49.03). She swam on four of Denison’s relays, most notably helping the relay capture an NCAA title in the 800 free relay. Culibrk anchored in a 1:48.37, the second fastest split of any of the field.

Culibrk’s best SCY times are:

• 50 free: 22.81
• 100 free: 49.66
• 200 free: 1:48.73

Culibrk’s best times would greatly boost the Pitt sprinters. Her 50 and 100 frees would have been second on the roster this past season, and her 200 free would have been the fastest on the roster as well as the only swim below the 1:50 mark.

Rising senior Sophie Yendell led the way in the 50 and 100 frees this past season helping score 29 points between the two events at ACCs. The team had no scorers in the 200 free at ACCs, but Culibrk’s best time would have been 25th in prelims, only 0.05 seconds off of making the C final.