Gardner-Webb Swimming Set to Compete in 2013 CCSA Championship Meet Thursday through Saturday
February 20, 2013 | Swimming
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb's men's and women's swim teams will make the trip to Athens, Georgia, as the Runnin' Bulldogs are set to compete at 2013 CCSA Championships at the Nielsen Natatorium located on the campus of the University of Georgia.
The Conference championship meet is scheduled to run Thursday, February 21 through Saturday, February 23.
A 3-1 dual meet record, as well as a 1st place finish at the midseason Wingate Fall Frenzy, show the depth of GWU's women's swim team, a squad that owns wins over two CCSA counterparts: Davidson and College of Charleston.
The Gardner-Webb women will look to improve on its 4th place finish in the CCSA standings a season ago by fielding a deep lineup of 18 scorers who can all contribute valuable points in multiple of events. Leading the way are several Runnin' Bulldogs whose current CCSA rank shows they will contend a top their respective events this weekend.
In that category is freshman Madi Dinsmore (New Ipswich, N.H.), who currently ranks third in the Conference in both the 500 free (4:59.60) and 1,650 free (17:20.79). Charity Byrum, a sophomore from Winston-Salem, N.C., holds the fourth fastest time in the 200 breast (2:20.49), the fifth best 100 breaststroke time (1:04.20), and the eighth fastest 200 I.M. time (2:07.31).
Freshman Giorgie Graves (Riverview, Fla.) also has the ability to contribute individually in several events, including the 100 fly (3rd, 55.59) and 200 fly (4th, 2:04.67), and figures to factor into the Runnin' Bulldogs' relay strategy this weekend. So does junior Faith Kempf (Sterling, Kan.), who has recorded CCSA Top 16 times in the 200 free (1:54.01), 200 fly (2:07.84), and 200 I.M. (2:09.90).
Further depth will come from freshmen April Niccolai (Naperville, Ill.), Christina Clayton (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Taylor Schwartz (Westerville, Ohio), juniors Samantha Shelley (Wilmington, Del.) and Anna Springer (Snellville, Ga.), seniors Laurenn Singleton (Elkin, N.C.) and Liz Van Halsema (Charlotte, N.C.), and sophomores Kaylee McCallan (Riverview, Fla.) and Jenna Ballinger (Lexington, Kent.), who all currently hold at least one CCSA Top 16 time entering the weekend.
On the men's side, Gardner-Webb is poised for another Top 3 finish at CCSA Championships, something the program has accomplished each year since its inception in 2007-08. Depth is also a strong suit for the Runnin' Bulldog men.
Junior Jordan Denmark (Raleigh, N.C.) holds the Conference's second fastest time in the 100 back (51.92), 200 back (1:50.96), and the 200 I.M. (1:52.79) entering this season's CCSA Championship meet. Senior DJ Hughes (Snellville, Ga.) ranks first in the 100 fly (50.20) as well as second in the 200 fly (1:53.43) and fourth in the 200 I.M. (1:56.30).
Freshman Nathan Lile (Waynesville, N.C.) can also contribute valuable points in all three of his individual events, including the 400 I.M. (4th, 4:07.33), 200 back (1:51.01), 500 free (3rd, 4:40.04), and 200 free (6th, 1:43.48), and has the ability to help out on relays. Fellow freshman Tate Warden (Charleston, W.Va.) can do the same, ranking 5th in the 200 free (1:43.40), 7th in the 500 free (4:42.56), 10th in the 100 free (47.89), 8th in the 50 free (21.78), 7th in the 100 fly (52.51), and 4th in the 200 fly (1:54.83).
Breaststroker Drew Ellwanger (Newborn, Ga.) holds the fastest 100 breast time in the Conference this season at 56.08 entering the CCSA Championship meet. The senior also ranks sixth in the 200 breast (2:11.28). Freshman distance swimmer Luke Denman (Greenville, S.C.) currently ranks first in the 1,650 free (16:07.38) and second in the 500 free (4:38.07).
GWU's will depth figures to be demonstrated this weekend, as sophomores Joe MacGregor (Brooksville, Fla.), Colin James (Greensboro, N.C.), Brandon Searle (Melbourne, Fla.), freshmen Andy Watts (Sarasota, Fla.) and Ryan Palmer (Wrentham, Mass.), juniors Cody Meyers (Mobile, Ala.), Taft Kallam (Randleman, N.C.), Matt Anderson (Fortaleza, Brazil), Phil Leonard (Clemson, S.C.), Cole Hickey (Charlotte, N.C.), and Sam Wilson (New Bern, N.C.), and seniors Mitch Turner (Acworth, Ga.) and Tyler Nuss (Hamilton, Ohio) all hold at least one CCSA Top 16 time entering this weekends' Championship meet.
Competition at the 2013 CCSA Championship opens with Thursday's prelims session and concludes Saturday night after day three's finals session. For live results, links will be provided at GWUSports.com.
