Gardner-Webb Races to 200-186 Win at Georgia Southern on Friday Night
January 25, 2014 | Swimming
Statesboro, Ga. - Giorgie Graves was in on three wins, and Faith Kempf was in on two, helping to propel Gardner-Webb women's swimming to a resilient 200-186 win in a relay meet versus Georgia Southern on Friday night.
The relay meet Friday night is the first chapter in a two-day showdown between CCSA rivals, as the Runnin' Bulldogs and Eagles meet again tomorrow for a dual meet in Statesboro.
Gardner-Webb opened the night by finishing 1st and 3rd in the 300 fly relay. Mary O'Doherty (58.19), Sarah Singleton (58.73), and Giorgie Graves (56.76) raced to a win in the event with a combined time of 2:53.68, besting GSU's 'A' relay that finished in 2:58.66. CJay Wiley (1:01.03), Adél Kiss (1:00.21), and Faith Kempf (59.77) added to GWU's point total with a time of 2:01.24 in taking 3rd.
The Eagles responded by finishing in 1st in the 300 back relay, but Gardner-Webb minimized the damage, occupying the 2nd and 3rd spots. Kaylee McCallan (59.53), April Niccolai (58.33), and Taylor Schwartz (59.43) teamed up for 2nd and a time of 2:57.29, and the trio of Jenna Ballinger (59.89), Caroline Andrews (58.59), and Kristen Ellison (1:06.95) combined to finish 3rd in 3:05.43.
In the next event, the 300 breaststroke relay, Georgia Southern again took 1st, but Gardner-Webb's depth allowed for another 2-3 finish to outscore the Eagles in the event. Charity Byrum (1:06.65), Anna Springer (1:09.49), and Sam Shelley (1:08.52) finished in the event's runner-up spot in a total time of 2:16.14, and Kristina Grayson (1:13.15), Kristina Nork (1:12.25), and Maria Seward (1:15.87) combined for a time of 3:41.27 and 3rd place in the event.
Georgia Southern won its third event in a row in the 800 free relay, further capturing momentum in the meet with a 1st place time of 7:45.38. Gardner-Web's Kempf (1:54.13), Ballinger (1:58.04), Andrews (1:59.80), and Graves (2:02.19) finished 2nd in the event in 7:54.16.
A fast swim from the quartet of McCallan (59.65), Byrum, Graves, and Kempf got Gardner-Webb back on top in the 400 medley relay with a 1st place time of 3:55.74. Niccolai (1:00.12), Shelley (1:08.91), Singleton (59.44), and Kiss (53.92) finished fast to take 3rd with a time of 4:02.39.
The host Eagles again responded to GWU's win with one of their own, and the back-and-forth dialing between CCSA rivals continued. GSU's winning time of 1:37.07 was trailed by Gardner-Webb's, as O'Doherty (24.47), Kempf (24.84), Andrews (24.64), and Seward (25.22) combined for a time of 1:39.17.
The Runnin' Bulldogs stormed ahead, using a 1-2 finish in the 300 kick relay to seize momentum. Singleton, Graves, and McCallan formed the 1st place trio (2:30.62), while Byrum, O'Doherty, and Niccolai teamed up for 2nd place (2:49.43) in the event.
Gardner-Webb followed with a big win in the 4x100 IM relay, extending its lead thanks to a 1st place effort from McCallan (1:02.94), Byrum (1:00.38), Kempf (1:01.00), and Wiley (1:01.85). The quartet finished with a time of 4:06.17 and provided the team ample cushion heading into the last event.
In the 400 free relay, Gardner-Webb's 'A' team finished in 2nd to preserve Friday night's win. O'Doherty (53.69), Ballinger (54.27), Graves (52.76), and Kempf (52.93) led Gardner-Webb in the event, placing 2nd with a time of 3:33.65.
Friday night's win for the Runnin' Bulldogs will have to be defended, as the two teams meet again tomorrow for a regulation double dual meet. North Florida, another CCSA rival, flies in tomorrow for duals against the Eagles and Runnin' Bulldogs.
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