University of Lynchburg's swim team posted a thrilling start to the 2022-23 season Saturday with runner-up finishes on both the men's and women's sides at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Relays in the Washington and Lee University Natatorium.
The Hornets piled up three event victories, two from the women and one from the men.
Lynchburg's men set the tone early, winning the first event of the afternoon – the 100-yard freestyle relay. Graduate student Chris Jennings, graduate student Colton Schnars, freshman Tyler Caten, and junior Will Kasemeyer hit the wall in 39.77 seconds to win the event by less than half a second.
The Hornet women followed with victory in the 150 breaststroke relay as senior Claire Galloway, freshman Sophia Schorr, and freshman Caroline Marotta tag-teamed the victory in 1:35.64, and the Lynchburg women finished strong in the 200 free relay as sophomore Savy Borroughs, Schorr, Galloway, and senior Corrinn Ford won in 1:40.63, the fourth-fastest time in program history in the event.
Lynchburg's men also piled up a mess of runner-up finishes, starting with the 150 backstroke relay of Schnars, Caten, and Kasemeyer. The 400 free relay – Caten, junior Ryan Legge, Kasemeyer, and Schnars – 100 dolphin kick relay – Schnars, junior Trevor O'Neill, senior Matt Fields, and senior Kellen Campbell – and 200 free relay – Schnars, Caten, Jennings, and Kasemeyer – all finished second. Schnars' first-leg 50 free of 21.76 clocked in at fourth on Lynchburg's all-time list in the event.
The Hornet women also placed second in three relays. Borroughs, Schorr, Galloway, and Ford took second in the 100 free relay (46.23), as did the trio of graduate student Emma Kate Russell, freshman Regan Leach, and junior Delaney Kennedy in the 150 butterfly relay (1:22.88). Lynchburg's women's 200 medley relay of freshman Caitlyn Moore, Galloway, Leach, and Borroughs was runner-up in 1:51.71.
Both Hornet teams placed second in the team standings for the first-time ever in the program's four-year history. The men captured 314 points to edge rival Roanoke for second by 1.5 points – the Hornets' first-ever victory over the Maroon men – and the women accumulated 307 points to top third-place Roanoke's 298. Host Washington and Lee won both team crowns.
Lynchburg's swim teams will get back on the blocks Friday, Oct. 21 at Mary Washington for a dual meet.
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