Jan. 9, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Saturday the Vanderbilt swim team hopped back in the pool for SEC competition to begin their second half of the season. The Commodores fell to the Kentucky Wildcats 170-92, but garnered 16 top-three finishes, and swam to first place finishes in three events.
“I thought they did really well with coming back from training”, said assistant coach Angie Nicolletta. They were pretty spot on as far as timing goes for where we should be. We’re getting ready for SECs so we have to get serious. We’re getting down to the wire so what they do all season, those times, set them up for their placement at SECs. So the faster they go the better placement.”
Summer Brown, a freshman, carried over her successes in the first half of the season in the 200-yard freestyle. Brown currently owns the Vanderbilt event record after swimming a time of 1:49.82 at the Georgia Invite. The Kokoma, Ind., native took home the first place finish yet again Saturday against the wildcats with a time of 1:51.10.
In the seventh event of the day senior Caroline Thomas and freshman Brenda Cha both swam to first place finishes with a time of 24.15, a rare occurrence which brought in 6.5 points a piece for the `Dores.
Senior Elly Faulker and sophomore Rachel Koch swam to first and third place finishes for the Commodores in the 400 Free IM; accumulating 12 points for the teams total.
“The team usually swims a little faster in the second semester. Their goals are the same all season long, and as they achieve their goals they get faster. The main goal is always SECS. So we’re just looking ahead to swimming at Auburn.
With SECs just around the corner, tomorrow the Commodores continue conference action as they host Arkansas and honor their senior class at 11 a.m.
