The Austin College men's and women's swimming and diving teams wrapped up an historic weekend at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship Meet on Saturday, with three more Austin College records falling and Lauren Wheeler becoming the first Kangaroo swimmer to ever turn in an NCAA National "B" Cut Qualifying time.
In all, 11 Austin College records were either broken for the first time or re-broken from earlier in the season over the course of the four day event, including Wheeler's second place finish in the 200 backstroke. Wheeler's time of 2:06.91 earned her All-SCAC honors and her NCAA "B" Cut Qualifying time, and marks the third time this season she has set a new record mark in the event. As an NCAA National "B" Cut Qualifier, Wheeler could now earn an at-large invitation to the national championship swim meet.
Other records that fell Saturday include two on the men's side, with Erik Gentzel swimming the backstroke in a time of 2:01.55 to take ninth place at the event, and Amit Pullarkat broke the Austin College 200 butterfly record in prelims and then beat that time in the finals to finish seventh. Pullarkat's finals time was 2:00.80.
Several other 'Roos turned in strong times on Saturday, with Anne Booker finishing 15th in the 100 freestyle with a time of 57.77, and Maggie Autry and Jade Ross finishing 10th and 12th in the 200 breaststroke, respectively, with times of 2:47.77 and 2:50.80. The team of Wheeler, Autry, Dory Johnson, and Booker also took fifth in the 400 freestyle relay.
On the men's side, Kelly Zapp turned in a career best performance in the 1650 freestyle, finishing in 11th place with a time of 18:37.51. Zapp dropped over two minutes off of his time in this event. Jacob Fenster and Mark Perez had strong showings in the 100 freestyle, with Fenster finishing 11th with a time of 49.25 and Perez taking 14th with a time of 49.90, and Josh Chanin took 11th in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:22.20.
Charlie Overton came in 11th in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:09.89, and the 400 freestyle relay team of Fenster, Gentzel, Jake Cole, and Perez took fifth place.
The 'Roos finished in fifth place overall on both the men's and women's side.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.