JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.- Carson-Newman swim will send 11 athletes to compete in the 2024 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships in Geneva, Ohio after selections for the meet were released Wednesday, Feb. 28.
"We are so proud of these guys," head swim coach Ben Young said. "This group, and the whole team, has worked so hard this season, and sometimes with very little rest. Now, we get to continue focusing on those details and prepping for nationals coming up".
Carson-Newman swim grabbed five individual selections to the 2024 NCAA DII Swimming & Diving Championships this past Wednesday, Feb. 28. Six other Eagles will attend the meet to compete in qualifying relay events. The championships will last five days, beginning on Monday, Mar. 11 in Geneva, Ohio.
"It's great that we are bringing a good-sized group with us to nationals," Young said. "We want to focus on supporting each other and lifting each other up while we are there, and it definitely helps to have your teammates by your side in these types of moments. I'm confident that this group will perform well individually and as a team".
For the women, Kyla Blakemore, Breanna Belcher, and Chrisman Rand were selected for individual events. A full list of selected swimmers for the women's side of competition can be found HERE.
"This year, it's been about figuring out what worked for me, training-wise, throughout the season," women's swimmer Blakemore said. "I've just been building off of what I've worked on all season to get me to nationals".
Blakemore was invited to the meet for both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events. Her 100 back entry time is listed at 55.32, and her 200 back entry time sits at 2:00.17. During the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Championships, Blakemore placed second in the 200-yard backstroke in a season-best performance. She finished third in the 100-yard backstroke in 55.32 to grab another season-best time and qualifying time.
Belcher is attending the NCAA DII Swimming & Diving Championships for the 100-yard breaststroke event. Her entry time sits at 1:03.00. During SAC Championships, Belcher finished third in the event in 1:03.19. She also grabbed a fourth-place finish in the women's 200 breast in a personal best 2:19.30.
Rand will race in the women's 100-yard butterfly at the national championships. She won gold in the event at the 2024 SAC Swimming Championships in 55.30, a new personal best. That 55.30-second time will serve as her entry time into nationals.
"We've worked hard all season. Now, it's about focusing on details and locking in," Blakemore said. "We know that we've done everything we need to do, and we will continue to prep ourselves".
Along with individual competition, C-N women's swim will compete in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle and medley relays at the 2024 NCAA DII Swimming & Diving Championships. Kennadi King, Antonia Sanint, and Emma Bowling will travel to the meet to assist the Eagles in those events.
For the men, Arthur Gluzman and Daniel de Oliveira will compete individually at nationals. The full list of men's selected swimmers can be found HERE.
"This season was tough," men's swimmer Gluzman said. "We've been hard-working, and we've been tired. At conference, I finally felt like it was getting a bit easier. There was a lot of pressure, but I'm happy with what I did".
Gluzman will attend the NCAA DII Swimming & Diving Championships for the men's 100-yard freestyle event. Gluzman's entry time is 43.91, a time he recieved during the prelims at SAC Championships. He finished second in the event during the finals in 44.09. Gluzman also grabbed a second-place finish in the men's 100 back in 48.84, a season-best time.
"I talk constantly with coach Ben Young, and I think he trusts that I know what I need to do," Gluzman said. "He trusts me, and I trust him. We all do".
De Oliveira was invited to the national meet for the men's 100-yard butterfly. His entry time for the event is 46.91. De Oliveira won gold in the event during the 2024 SAC Swimming Championships with that time, grabbing a new personal best. He also placed second in the men's 200 back (1:48.68) and 200 free (1:38.51).
The men will also compete in the 200 and 400-yard medley relays while at nationals. Teammates Asger Hartvig, Daniel Ribeiro, and Benaiah McDowell will accompany the men for these events.
"It's a big meet," Young said. "It's what we have our eyes on all season long, and I'm very pleased with the group that we are taking. It's the last stretch of this season, so we will keep on pushing and hopefully come back with some nice swims and nice results".
The 2024 NCAA DII Swimming & Diving Championships are set to begin Monday, Mar. 11 in Geneva, Ohio, and 11 Carson-Newman swimmers are set to compete for All-American status. Stay up to date on cneagles.com.
