INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - McKendree University women's swimming and diving swam to its highest finish in program history at the NCAA Division II Championships, grabbing 11th place out of 39 teams. The Bearcats registered five top eight finishes as well as four top 16 performances for the week.
In Friday's finals, freshman Ana Cecilia Carvalho competed in the finals of the 1650 freestyle, placing sixth overall. Carvalho's time of 16.47.01 marked her as the fastest Division II freshman to compete in the 1650 freestyle for the 2022-23 season. Along with sixth place in the 1650 freestyle, Carvalho took home sixth in the 1000 freestyle earlier in the week.
The McKendree women's team concluded the championships with an 11th place performance in the 400 freestyle relay with members freshman Jocelyn Zgola, sophomore Karley Sonnenberg, junior Alexis Kachkin, and fifth-year senior Abigail Rumpp. The quad finished with a time of 3:24.57.
Two of the top eight finishes from the week came via junior diver Regan Gubera. Gubera repeats as an All-American as she finished eighth in 1-meter diving and fourth in 3-meter diving. The fourth place finish is the highest individual finish in program history at the NCAA championships.
Another top eight finish was the highest placing of a relay team for McKendree women's swimming. McKendree's 200 freestyle relay consisting of Sonnenberg, Kachkin, Rumpp, and freshman Gabriela Novias Lima grabbed fifth place overall.
McKendree head coach Jimmy Tierney on the Bearcats' finish:
"So proud of what our women have accomplished this year, moving from 19th place at NCAAs to 11th! It has been a great challenge for these ladies to push this program from a mid-level NCAA Division team to now being among the nation's elite. A mix of younger (5 first timers) with some veteran experience led by Seniors Abby Rumpp and Regan Gubera ended up being a very successful combination for our team. The future is very bright!"
At the NCAA National Championship Meet, the top eight swimmers in each individual event earn First Team All-American honors, while places 9-16 receive Honorable Mention All-American accolades.
Click here for a complete list of results from the championships.
