VIDEO: Jordan Taylor Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – While the calendar has turned over to 2017, the Carson-Newman swim team will be looking to continue the success that started in the fall of 2016 when they pay a visit to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga. on Sept. 13th for a dual meet against the Lions at 3 p.m.
Both the C-N men and women enter this competition ranked nationally. The most recent poll by the College Swim Coaches Association of America places the women 19th in the nation and the men 22nd.
The Eagles concluded last year by throttling Bellarmine and Maryville in a tri-meet in Louisville on Dec. 17th. Coach Taylor's troops have also breezed to easy victories over Limestone, University of the Cumberlands and King (Tenn.) in their three dual meets this season. The current campaign has also included a trip to the University of Cincinnati for the Bearcats Midseason Invitational against Division I programs Cincinnati and Indiana State. There, C-N shattered eight school records and earned nine first place finishes. Both the men and the women have a total of 49 first place finishes this season, a mark each side will be looking to add to on Friday.
Coach Taylor's roster includes 24 student-athletes who have won at least one race during the current academic year. Maggie Melhorn (Knoxville, Tenn.) is tied for the team-high with eight victories, two which came during her team's last meet. Her junior campaign has also included setting program records in the 100 individual medley and the 200 breaststroke and registering a national B qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke.
Jon Lancaster (Ringgold, Ga.) and Marcelo Figueiredo (Porto Alegre, Brazil) have helped lead the men's team. Lancaster is tied with Melhorn with eight wins and broke the Carson-Newman record in the 100 IM in Cincinnati, swimming it in a time of 52.40. Figueiredo's win total reached six when he captured a pair of wins in Louisville. The Brazil native has performed especially well in long distance competitions such as the 500 free and the 1650 free, events in which he's posted new program bests this season.
Challenging the Eagles in this dual meet is an Emmanuel College team that has also had an outstanding year. The women finished first in the Sewanee and Brenau Invitationals, as well as at the Carolina Relay Meet in Oct. They also topped Campbellsville, Point and Bethel a quad-meet in Oct. and knocked off Berry College in a dual meet on Nov. 5th. The men also claimed first place in both invitationals, as well as at the quad meet and toppled Berry for another win.
The Lions' men squad is currently receiving votes in the CSCAA poll and their top performers this season have been Adrian Aleksandrowicz and Pedro Illescas. Both student-athletes have earned the Appalachian Swimming Conference Player of the Week award this year. Aleksandrowicz has racked up seven victories on the season, while Illescas found his way to the top spot four times in Emmanuel's win over Berry. Senior Diana Tobo has been a standout for the women, as she's claimed seven wins to top the group.
At conclusion of the festivities in Franklin Springs, visit cneagles.com for complete results and a full recap of the competition.
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