JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles men's and women's swimming team will host the Limestone Saints men's and women's swimming team for a meet at the Maddox Swimming Pool on Saturday at noon.
The meet marks the first time the Eagle swimmers will face NCAA competition after hosting the "Inaugural Splash" intra-squad meet on Sept. 24 in Jefferson City.
"I am really looking forward to having our first competition here in this pool," said Carson-Newman head coach Paige McCord. "It's going to be great."
At the Inaugural Splash, the Eagles introduced the Carson-Newman community to competitive swimming at the collegiate level for the first time, making quite an impression on McCord.
"I saw a lot of heart," McCord said. "I saw a lot of people that were excited to be swimming in college for the first time and we have some fierce competition for our relays and that really plays a huge role later on in the season. So I've seen a lot of our athletes vying for those slots, it's going to be a good race."
While the Eagles competed against themselves three weeks ago, the opportunity for competition against another school for the first time comes in with Limestone on Saturday. The Saints last competed on Sept. 28 at Division I power Georgia Tech, falling in both the men's meet 160-94 and the women's portion 164-87.
"We'll have a good challenge," McCord said. "Limestone is going to be good competition for us for both the men and women's side. I look forward to seeing what my athletes can do."
On the women's side, Carson-Newman freshman Amanda Henderson (Bartlett, Tenn.) impressed at the Inaugural Splash by winning the women's 50-yard freestyle with a 25.40 second mark before also winning the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 27.32.
The Carson-Newman men's swimmers were paced by junior Stephen Parsons (Auburn, Ala.) with victories in the 100 individual medley and 50 butterfly, posting times of 50.45 and 24.06.
The meet begins at noon at the Maddox Swimming Pool, and the best action begins at the start according to McCord.
"You do not need to miss the 200-yard medley relay which is our first event," said McCord. "We are very strong in that event and also the very last event of the day, the 400-yard men's relay. Relays are always fun."
