The Converse College swimming team earned their second and third win of the season in an 86 to 50 to 68 win, respectively, against Mars Hill College and Catawba College on Saturday (Oct. 23) at the Abernethy Physical Education Center.
The Valkyries were in control from the very beginning, kicking off the meet with a near school record in the 400 medley relay of Rhiannon Gluhosky, Jenni Russell, Jess Mason, and Ashley Johnson.
An event later, freshmen Elizabeth Wright and Christl Bradley would capture second and third in the 1000 freestyle with both breaking the school record set the night before by Jenni Russell. Elizabeth Wright would be the one to win the event with a time of 11:27.76.
Freshman Gluhosky would take the 200 freestyle with a 1:58.76 breaking the school record and posting the 10th fastest time currently in Division II.
Jess Mason would take second in the 50 freestyle out touched only by .03 seconds by Mars Hill’s Nicole Day. However, Mason would break the school record with the swim and post a top 30 time in the nation for the event. Tori Myers and Mia Shaw would take the win the second heat in the event, going 27.52 and 28.35 respectively.
The next event would be the 200 Individual medley, in which Russell would have a commanding first place finish with the rest of the field finishing three seconds or more behind. Mason and Bradley would score again in the next event for the Valkyries taking first and fourth respectively in the 100 fly.
Ashley Johnson would win one of the tightest and biggest races of the night in the 100 freestyle out touching, Mars Hill’s Lena Palo by .2 seconds and going an in-season best time. Shortly behind the two was freshman Jesse Pope, who would capture third and go a near lifetime best of 57.10. She would later break her lifetime best leading off the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 56.89.
Ashley Johnson and Elizabeth Wright would score again for the team in the 500 freestyle, finishing second and third respectively. Russell and Hillary Johnson would do the same in the 100 breaststroke, with junior Kate Mattil going a time that would have got her fourth, if it were not due to the only two swimmers scoring rule.
The Valkyries are on the road next weekend, as they return to Salisbury, N.C., for the Boo Bash Relay meet. The teams participating are Pfeiffer University, Queens University, Lenoir Rhyne University, Brenau University, Limestone College and host Catawba College with a 10 am start time.
Post Weekend Comments:
“I'm so happy that I got my national B cut in the first meet. It shows that my hard training is paying off and that I can get the A cut in the near future,” commented freshman Rhiannon Gluhosky. “It feels awesome to be an undefeated team so far! We all worked really hard to make it happen and I'm so happy I can be a part of such a great team!”
“Not only did we accomplish our first three wins as a team, but we became closer as a team too. This was the first of many weekends ahead, and I am so excited to see how much closer we all will become,” commented sophomore Ashley Johnson when asked about this weekend. “I was also extremely pleased with my times to start the season, knowing I’m much faster and stronger this year and will be making an impact, which I hope and know will help the success as a team.”
“It was amazing to come together as a team and cheer for one another in every race,” said freshman Hillary Johnson. “I’m excited for what the future brings for the team and myself, as I know the hard work will pay off in the end.”
