INDIANAPOLIS – The first five Carson-Newman swimming All-American honors in program history were earned Thursday night on the second night of competition at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships at IU Natatorium.

The men's 200 Free Relay consisting of freshman Paul Ungur (Baia Mare, Romania), sophomore Samuel Schechter (Knoxville, Tenn.) and seniors Ben Young (Morristown, Tenn.) and Stephen Parsons (Auburn, Ala.) were the first four to pick up the award.

Sophomore Natalie Burnett (Sevierville, Tenn.) was the first individual All-American after her performance in the 100 Fly.

Five more Honorable Mention All-American honors were also awarded to Eagles.

"Hard work pays off. I'm incredibly proud of our men for fighting for their spot in the championship heat and earning male All-Americans in the process. They have had a great season," coach Paige McCord said. "Natalie's remarkable swim is showing the power of local talent. Our women swam heroically and smashed their own record by over two seconds. What a great day to be an Eagle."

The men's 200 Free Relay team that won a swim-off earlier Thursday afternoon finished eighth in the Championship heat with a time of 1:20.85. The Wayne State (Mich.) Warriors won the national title in the event.

Ungur picked up his second Honorable Mention All-American honor as he finished 16^th in the 100 Fly. He swam the race in 49.06. He garnered his first Honorable Mention award Wednesdya night in the 200 Medley Relay.

The women's 400 Medley Relay team earned the other four Honorable Mention honors. Burnett, freshman Maggie Melhorn (Knoxville, Tenn.), freshman Lexy Raybon (Sarasota, Fla.) and sophomore Samantha Starnes (Knoxville, Tenn.) finished 10^th in the nation with a time of 3:46.92. That time is a new Carson-Newman school record.

Freshmen Maggie Melhorn (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Margaret Stansberry (Knoxville, Tenn.) both swam in the preliminary heats of the 200 Free. Melhorn finished as the 45^th-quickest swimmer in the nation with a time of 1:54.23 and Stansberry's time of 1:54.64 placed her 48^th.

Parsons finished just out of the consolation heats in the 200 Free. The senior swam the race in 1:38.99, which was four-hundredths of a second off his personal best, which placed him 19^th. Young followed behind him in 38^th place with a time of 1:41.09.

Friday's schedule for the Eagles in Indianapolis includes: Lexy Raybon (Sarasota, Fla.) swimming the 500 Free and 200 Fly, Ungur, Stansbery and Burnett swimming the 100 Back and Melhorn in the 100 Breast.

-CN-