Swim & dive looks to continue upward trend at SCIAC Championship

ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University men's and women's swim and dive teams head into the SCIAC Championships this Wednesday, Feb. 15 through Saturday, Feb. 18. The Panthers had a historic showing at the conference championship meet last year as nine school records fell and the women's team had its best finish as a team in school history.

Sophomore Kellyn Toole aims to defend her record-breaking SCIAC titles on the 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards. Then-rookie Toole was the first Chapman diver to win a SCIAC title and swept both events with school record scores. She has continued to put up impressive numbers and has already qualified for NCAA Division III Regionals.

The women's side enters the meet tied for 5th place with Whittier, Occidental and La Verne after all finished 3-5 in the dual meet season. Senior Martina Exlerova goes into the weekend ranked 11th overall in the 50 free with a time of 24.88. Junior Mary Welton has the sixth-fastest time in the SCIAC in the 1650 free with a 18:39.42.

Freshman Sara Quach looks to make a big impact in her first championship as she currently has the seventh-fastest 100 back in the SCIAC. The rookie heads into the meet ranked third in the 200 back with a 2:09.64 – the highest ranking of any Chapman swimmer.

The men are tied for 8th place with Caltech after the dual season and are looking to jump ahead of the Beavers after earning their first dual win since joining the SCIAC in 2012-13. Sophomore Connor Broughton looks to shatter more records this year, going into the championships 15th overall in the 500 free with a time of 4:53.86, 14th overall in the 1650 free with a time of 17:22.38, and 9th overall in the 400 IM with a time of 4:21.07.

Sophomore Quinn Gates enters this weekend 18th overall in the 50 free with a time of 21.98. Freshman Chase Mitchell is in the top-15 in two events, including 11th overall in the 200 fly and the 1650 free.

The SCIAC Championships start today with diving and relays and end on Feb. 18. In a preseason poll, the Chapman women were picked to finish fifth and the men were picked ninth.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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