Columbus, Georgia - The SCAD women's swim team won four national title and made NAIA history on the final day of competition to help the Bees capture the NAIA National Championship Saturday night at the Columbus Aquatics Center. This is SCAD's third national championship in program history and the first since 2010.
"This was our goal the whole season and we saw great performances from both the men's and women's team throughout the week," said head coach Bill Pilczuk. "This team had great leadership and the seniors really brought the team together to ensure they went out on top."
Caroline Lepesant began the night by breaking the school record in both 1000 and 1650 free en route to her first individual national championship of meet. Lepesant touched the wall in 16:44.01, which was less than a second away from the NAIA record.
The Bees made NAIA swimming history in the women's 200 butterfly by becoming the first team to have the first thru fifth finishes in a single race at the NAIA National Championships. Hannah Legg led SCAD touching the wall in 2:03.98 to win the national title. Rebecca Justus and Emma McKinley earned All-American honors after finishing second and third, respectfully, while Cadie Crow out reached Haley Thompson by 0.01 seconds to finish fourth.
In the final event of the meet, the 400 free relay, the Bees took home its final national champions with a first place finish. Heather Partlow, Julie Woody, Thompson, and Abigail Richey teamed up to swim a new school touching the wall in 3:27.24.
Before winning the 200 breast, Legg earned All-American accolades in the 200 back finishing third with a time of 2:02.68. Legg is one of two Bees swimmers to earn All-American honors in each of their three individual events. The other was Justus, who earned All-American honors in the 200 butterfly, and both the 200 and 400 individual medley.
In the 100 free, Partlow led the six Bees swimmers with a runner-up finish touching the wall in 51.97. Richey finished fourth with a time of 52.34, while Thompson finished fifth (52.67) and Julie Henninger finished eighth (53.21). Woody won the consolation final with a time of 52.68, while Meagan McManus finished 14th (53.82).
Alle Ragland swam a season-best 2:24.13 in the 200 breast to finish fifth.
The women's team finished the meet with four individual national champions and sweeping all five of the relays. They also had 11 swimmers combine for 36 All-American honors. Pilczuk was named the NAIA women's swimming coach of the year.
The Bees finished the meet scoring 753 points. Olivet Nazarene finished in second place with 502.50 points.
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Results:
100 yard Free - Heather Partlow, 2nd, 51.97; Abigail Richey, 4th, 52.34; Haley Thompson, 5th, 52.67; Julie Henninger, 8th, 53.21; Julie Woody, 9th, 52.68; Meagan McManus, 14th, 53.82
200 yard Back - Hannah Legg, 3rd, 2:02.68; Allison Smith, 16th, 2:11.34
200 yard Breast - Alle Ragland, 5th, 2:24.13
200 yard Butterfly - Hannah Legg, 1st, 2:03.98; Rebecca Justus, 2nd, 2:04.98; Emma McKinley, 3rd, 2:05.01; Cadie Crow, 4th, 2:08.56; Haley Thompson, 5th, 2:08.57
1650 yard Free - Caroline Lepesant, 1st, 16:44.01; Shannon Brouk, 8th, 18:16.52
400 yard Free Relay - (Partlow, Woody, Thompson, Richey), 1st, 3:27.24
All-Americans:
Cadie Crow - 400 Medley Relay
Shannon Cummings - 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay
Rebecca Justus - 200 butterfly, 200 Individual Medley, 400 Individual Medley, 800 Free Relay
Hannah Legg - 100 Butterfly, 200 Back, 200 Butterfly
Caroline Lepesant - 500 Free, 1650 Free
Emma McKinley - 200 butterfly, 800 Free Relay
Heather Partlow - 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay,
Abigail Richey - 200 Free, 500 Free, 400 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 800 Free Relay
Kandes Soapes - 100 Back, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
Haley Thompson - 200 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay
Julie Woody - 50 Free, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay
