BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb swimming team took to Bost Pool for the final time in 2025-2026 on Friday evening, celebrating the program's Senior Day against Davidson

In the overall scores, the Gardner-Webb men were defeated 134-124, while the Gardner-Webb women fell by a final of 138-123. The Runnin' Bulldogs did however post some solid individual times and records throughout the meet

The first win of the day for GWU came in the men's 200-yard medley relay. Highlighted by senior Justin Bender, the team of Bender, Carter Redelman, Jacob Jensen and Luke Wesson topped the charts with a time of 1:29.36. The Runnin' Bulldogs took the time two times in the event, with Agustin Orechia, Dan Bennett, Manuel Brandner and Porter Lane in second with a time of 1:31.24

Over in the men's 50-yard freestyle, Jensen returned to take first place in 20.72 seconds, while Wesson was third place in 21.18 seconds for Gardner-Webb

Bender and Bennett were back in the pool later on to compete in the men's 100-yard breaststroke. Bender won the event in 56.25 seconds, while Bennett was third in 57.77 seconds. Bender continued an excellent senior day by also winning the men's 200-yard breaststroke in 2:03.49

Orechia and Redelman were back to compete in the men's 100-yard backstroke. Orechia posted a second place run in 49.38 seconds, while Redelman was third in 49.61 seconds. Orechcia furthermore, won the men's 200-yard backstroke in 1:48.29 as well

Among the seniors competing on Friday for Gardner-Webb was Hannah Routh, who scored a third place run in the women's 200-yard freestyle. Routh touched the wall with a final time of 1:56.29. She'd make her senior day a memorable one in the women's 100-yard butterfly, winning that event in 56.05 seconds, while teammates Jillian Hawkins and Jenna Valentine were second and third in 57.54 seconds and 57.95 seconds each

Among the winners on the day for GWU was Dakota Townley. Townley was scored first place in the women's 100-yard breaststroke, putting down a time of 1:03.80 and winning by nearly two full seconds. She'd also take first in the women's 200-yard breaststroke in 2:18.32, winning by nearly five fill seconds

Slawka Ndubuisi picked two individual wins on the day for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The Columbia, S.C. native won the women's 50-yard freestyle in a blistering 23.25 seconds, then the women's 100-yard freestyle in 52.05 seconds

Of the three seniors, Sara-Michael Jann also had a memorable finish. Jann placed third in the women's 400-yard IM, posting a time of 4:38.31. Gardner-Webb teammate Kaitlyn Estes won the event in 4:35.66

To cap off some strong individual performances for GWU, Luke Weber took victory in the men's 400-yard IM, recording a time of 3:59.75, the only swimmer in the event to finish in under 4:00

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs now prepare for the 2026 ASUN Championships, scheduled for February 19th through the 21st in Orlando, Fla.