Gardner-Webb Women's Swimming to Host CCSA Rival Georgia Southern in 2013 Season Finale on Friday, February 1
January 29, 2013 | Swimming
Boiling Springs, N.C. - The final dual meet for Gardner-Webb's women's swim team comes this weekend, Friday, February 1, when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Georgia Southern.
GWU (3-0) is coming off a 136-69 win over Davidson on senior day last weekend.
In its three dual meets in 2013, Gardner-Webb's women's swim team has been able to show off tremendous depth in defeating Limestone as well as a pair of CCSA counterparts in College of Charleston and Davidson.
Over the last three meets, GWU freshman Giorgie Graves (Riverview, Fla.) has led the team with wins in each of her six individual events. The Runnin' Bulldog rookie has showed tremendous versatility in winning five different events during that span, including two wins in the 100 fly as well as individual triumphs in the 200 fly, 500 free, 200 free, and 400 m free.
Graves has also been a part of five Gardner-Webb relay wins in 2013.
Sophomore Charity Byrum (Winston-Salem, N.C.) has added four individual wins and has been a part of five relay victories over the last three meets. Junior Faith Kempf (Sterling, Kan.) has twice won the 200 free in 2013, and has been on four winning relay teams for GWU over the past three dual meets.
Freshman Madi Dinsmore (New Ipswich, N.H.) has helped hold down the distance events for the Gardner-Webb women, winning the 1000 free twice and the 500 free once in the last three meets. Dinsmore added a pair of 2nd place finishes, in both the 1500 m free and 400 m free against the Cougars, respectively.
Seniors Liz Van Halsema (Charlotte, N.C.) and Laurenn Singleton (Elkin, N.C.) have contributed to GWU's recent success in a big way, combining for three individual wins and two relay wins this season. Singleton has also finished 2nd in the 200 back (Limestone) and 100 back (College of Charleston) in 2013.
Sophomore Jenna Ballinger (Lexington, N.C.) has been a key factor of late, helping GWU's depth in a number of freestyle events. She combined with Dinsmore to complete 1-2 finishes in both the 500 and 1000 free against Davidson and was a member of the 1st place 400 free relay team versus the Wildcats.
GWU has also gotten a boost from junior Samantha Shelley (Wilmington, Del.), sophomores Kaylee McCallan (Melbourne, Fla.) and Mary O'Doherty (Charlotte, N.C.), and freshman April Niccolai (Naperville, Ill.). Shelley won the 200 breast against Limestone and took 2nd in the same event against Davidson, McCallan owns a win in the 200 back as well as two victories as part of GWU's 1st place 400 medley relay teams, O'Doherty has twice won the 50 free, and Niccolai has finished no lower than 2nd in each of her individual events in the past three meets including a win in the 400 I.M. against Davidson.
Gardner-Webb will look to continue to display depth as a team strength in this weekend's season finale against a Georgia Southern team coming off a 142-101 loss to North Florida this past Saturday.
The Eagles, who took 2nd out 8 teams at the Wingate Fall Frenzy back in November, are strong in a number of events. Distance swimmer Kylee Parsons took 4th in the 1650 free at the Fall Frenzy with a time 17:34.10. Christina Moran (4th, 200 back, 2:05.75), Elaina Lanson (4th, 100 free, 51.74), Kristen Bates (2nd, 200 breast, 2:21.63), and Lauren Campbell (6th, 200 fly, 2:10.32) also lead the Eagles in their respective strengths.
Friday's CCSA dual meet between Gardner-Webb and Georgia Southern is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start time.
