GREENSBORO, N.C. - After becoming the first Austin College swimmer to earn an invitation to the NCAA Division III National Championships in program history, Sammi Thiele finished 23rd in the nation in the 100 backstroke out of 39 competitors.

Thiele, a junior from Keller, was competing in the 100 backstroke for the first time in her career this season and wasted no time bursting onto the national scene in the event. She smashed the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference record, as well as the Austin College program mark, with a time of 56.22 at the conference championships on her way to earning a spot at the championship meet. Her prelim time of 56.73 was good for 23rd at the meet, and was less than a second from being a top 10 time at the championships.