East Tennessee State University’s Swim Club team competed on Saturday, Feb. 26, at their first swim meet in over two years.
The team traveled to Columbia, South Carolina for the seventh annual University of South Carolina Garnet and Black Invitational.
At the swim meet, the team placed 4th overall, bringing 10 swimmers to compete.
“It was really exciting to go. The club has grown a lot! We’ve added about 8 to 10 swimmers, and this meet we took 10, and that’s the biggest amount we’ve ever taken in the club’s history. Not only have we grown, but we are coming back from COVID stronger than we left it,” said club president and senior Emily Grice.
The women’s 200m relay placed second with freshman Sam Bates, senior Cameron Seeley, senior Lucy Groscost and Grice.
In addition to the relay and overall team placing, four swimmers qualified for nationals in a total of seven events. In order to qualify for nationals, the swimmers must earn a predetermined time for a bid.
The club’s president, Emily Grice placed 5th out of 31 in the 50-yard butterfly, 7th out of 28 in the 50-yard breaststroke, and 12th out of 65 in the 50-yard freestyle. Grice qualified for nationals in the 50 fly, and the 50 breaststroke.
Senior Lucy Groscost swam in the 100 breaststroke placing 4th and in the 50 butterfly placing 26. Groscost gained a bid to nationals for the 100 breaststroke event.
Freshman Sam Bates placed 13th in the 100IM and 5th out of 36 in the 50 backstroke, gaining her national bid in the 50 backstroke.
Senior Cameron Seeley placed 1st out of 31 in the 100IM, 3rd in the 50 backstroke, 12th in the 50 butterfly, and 6th in the 50 freestyle. Seeley earned her national times in the 50 backstroke, 100IM, and 50 freestyle.
In addition to the swimmers going to nationals, the club also had a good weekend with some other swimmers.
Junior Elizabeth Hamilton placed 11th in the 50 backstroke, 16th in the 50 butterfly, and 7th in the 200IM.
Junior Madalyn Thayer placed 14th in the 200-yard freestyle, 18th in the 50 butterfly, and 6th in the 100 butterfly.
Sophomore Zach Browning placed 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke, 25th in the 50 freestyle, and 4th in the 500-yard freestyle.
The Swim Club has two more meets before Nationals, on Saturday, March 19 the team is going to UNC Greensboro and on Saturday, March 26 they are going to Knoxville at UT. Nationals will be held from Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10 at Georgia Tech.
