NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt swimming concludes the fall campaign when it takes part in the three-day Phill Hansel Invitational hosted by Houston.
The meet gets underway Wednesday at the CRWC Natatorium, with prelims each morning starting at 10 a.m. Finals on the first two days of the meet begin at 5 p.m. and are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
“Since our first meet we had the opportunity to be at home for a long stretch which gave us an opportunity to get a really good month of training in. We were able to spend a lot of time together and really jell as a group,” head coach Jeremy Organ said. “This week—which is a midpoint of the season for us—we have a chance to get up and race in a really good pool with some great competition to help prepare us for the second half of the schedule.”
Aubrey Hull enters the competition with team’s top marks in the 100 and 200 backstroke after claiming victories in both events in the Commodores’ last meet against Indiana State and Illinois Nov. 7-8. The sophomore also is among the top five on the program’s season performer list in the 50 freestyle and has swum legs on three of Vandy’s top relays this fall.
Melissa Cowen tops the squad in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, with her best time in the latter event at Missouri on Nov. 1 ranking fifth on the Dores’ all-time performer list. The junior transfer has been part of the team’s fastest 400 freestyle and 400 medley relays her first semester with the program as well. Another pair of juniors—Madelyn Porter and Bailey Ratzburg—also have the lowest marks on the team in multiple events, with the former leading Vandy in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle and the latter recording the program’s fastest times in the 200 and 400 individual medley.
Kate Heintz and Ellie Butler are one-two on the Dores’ season performer list in the 100 and 200 butterfly, with Butler posting the top mark in the former event and Heintz pacing the squad in the latter. Butler has the program’s best time in 200 freestyle also. Two seniors, Jenna Ravarino and Ryen Bosuro, have Vandy’s fastest marks in the 50 and 100 freestyle, respectively.
The Commodores have competed at the Phill Hansel Invitational on three previous occasions, with their last appearance at the event coming in November 2019. Joining Vandy and the host Cougars in the field this week will be Air Force, Colorado State, Florida Gulf Coast, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Rice, San Jose State and Tulane.
Schedule of Events
Wednesday: 200 Free Relay, 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, 400 Medley Relay, 1-Meter Diving
Thursday: 200 Medley Relay, 100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 800 Free Relay, 3-Meter Diving
Friday: 1,650 Free, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 400 Free Relay, Platform Diving
