Jan. 13, 2012
The Vanderbilt women’s swimming team gets back in action on Saturday, January 14, when they travel to Evansville.
The Vanderbilt University swimming team will get back in action for the first time since November 20 of last year when they travel to Evansville, Ind., to take on Evansville on Saturday, January 14. The meet gets underway at 1:00 p.m. CT.
The Commodores posted a 0-3 record in dual meets in the fall against Kentucky, Western Kentucky and Tulane. Head Coach Jeremy Organ’s squad also placed second out of five teams at Western Kentucky’s Hilltopper Invitational.
The freshman class has been the story thus far, especially the performances of Chrissy Oberg and Caroline Thomas. The pair had impressive collegiate debuts in a home meet versus UK and WKU. Oberg was less than one second behind the winner in the 200 yard backstroke, while Thomas finished fourth in the 100 yard freestyle.
Thomas took the momentum to New Orleans for a meet against Tulane, where she set a school record of 52.11 in the 100 yard freestyle. The Commodores also got victories from Erika Deardorf (1,000 yard freestyle), Lauren Torres (200 yard freestyle), Oberg (200 yard backstroke) and in the 200 yard medley relay, swam by Oberg, Sarah Lynch, Jess Eccher and Thomas.
It wasn’t quite enough, however, as the Commodores dropped the meet to the Green Wave, 155-125.
Vanderbilt then rebounded nicely, placing 2nd at the Hilltopper Invitational, only behind host Western Kentucky.
Thomas took home a first place finish in the 50 freestyle on day one, edging and Evansville swimmer by .11 seconds.
Day two saw the 200 medley relay team again finish strong, placing second behind the performances of Oberg, Lynch, Torres and Thomas. The 200 free then saw Torres, Amy Salce and Caroline Thomas finish second, third and fourth.
The final day saw a pair of victories as the Dores edged Evansville for second place. Thomas picked up a win in the 100 free, followed by Torres winning the 200 fly.
Vanderbilt’s final margin over Evansville was 1,333-1,104 and the Commodores are excited to have a chance to make that hold up and earn the first dual victory of the season.
“Things we really close at Western Kentucky and it was really exciting,” Freeman said. “We just want to go out and beat them again.”
Following the trip to Evansville to take on the Purple Aces, Vanderbilt will return home for its final meet of the year at the Centennial SportsPlex on Saturday, January 21, when they host Marshall.
It will be senior day for Stephanie Falcone, Laura Dillon, Zoe Cooper-Surma and Elizabeth Brunk. The meet with the Thundering Herd begins at 1:00 p.m.
