INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Swimming and diving kicked off the annual House of Champions meet tonight with a slew of season best times.
The women are currently seated in fifth with 345 points, while the men are in seventh with 163.
"We had a strong day today. We competed very well," head coach Rickey Perkins commented. "Over 90% of the team went a season or lifetime best time this morning. I am looking forward to tomorrow's session. Hopefully we can be a little better."
The women started the evening with a third place finish in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Senior Michaela Kent, sophomore Kristen Myers, freshman Emma Hennessy, and junior Danielle Freeman teamed up to clock in at 1:35.54.
Freeman had a night of individual success. She took first place in the 50 freestyle with 23.25, a time which broke the meet record she herself set in 2014. Kent followed in 11
th place with a 23.93. Hennessy took 15
th, her preliminary time from the morning of 24.18 a season best. Junior Jessi Hildebrand grabbed a season best in the 500 freestyle this morning with a 5:10.68.
Freeman also took 12
th place in the 100 butterfly with a 57.37. Hennessy took 19
th, another time drop with a 57.96.
Myers had a strong individual showing as well. She placed sixth in the 200 IM, her final time a 2:08.53. Senior Taylor Davidson placed 17
th with a 2:10.97, a career best for her.
The women ended their night with the 400 Medley Relay. Kent, freshman Alaina Sylvester, Myers, and Freeman finished in fifth with a time of 3:53.62.
The men saw a number of personal best times on their side as well. Senior Everett Plocek, and sophomores Blake Wheeler, Matt Duke, and Jared Sutphin touched in at 1:25.42 in the 200 Freestyle Relay for tenth place.
Plocek earned a season best of his own in the 50 free. His time of 21.58 was good for 12
th place. Duke followed in 15
th place with a 21.68. Junior Gabe James knocked time off his season best this morning as well, his preliminary time at 22.21.
Freshman Brandt Hudson led the Aces in the 500 freestyle, clocking in at 4:41.42 for 19
th place. Jared Sutphin followed in 26
th with a 4:48.37, and senior Andrew Cotton took 28
th with 4:49.50. The times of all three were improved on from the preliminary efforts.
Junior Dan O'Brien finished the 100 butterfly in 18
th place, clocking in at 50.94. Junior Prescott Marcy came next in 26
th with 51.78. Freshman Paul Cozzens took 17
th in the 200 IM with a final time of 1:54.32. Junior Brendan Ninneman earned a season best this morning with a 2:03.67.
The men finished the session with a 12
th place finish in the 400 Medley Relay. O'Brien, Plocek, Marcy, and Sutphin touched in for a final time of 3:30.27.
The Aces are back at 10 am EST tomorrow for the second session preliminaries.
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