The AU swim teams had arguably their best showing in school history at this weekend’s Transylvania Invitational. The women’s team placed seventh with 128 points, while the men placed sixth with 215 points.
The 343 total points landed the Ravens in seventh in combined scores. Rose-Hulman won the Invitational with 1696 combined points.
“This team continues to impress me with its ability to repeatedly outdo itself,” said coach Conner Snare. “This weekend is another prime example of that.”
In the strong showing, AU recorded 22 season-best times, 28 lifetime-best times and set 16 school records.
“This weekend was an amazing experience to be a part of,” said Carson Barteau. “The amount of people who made it back to the finals each day was inspiring and showed that we can compete with larger teams on an individual level.”
Kris Keller set three individual school records for the men’s team. His 4:20.41 is the new record in the 400 Individual Medley, his 2:01.68 topped the old record in the 200 Individual Medley and his third record-breaking performance came in the 200 Freestyle. His time in the 400 Individual Medley was good for third place in the event, AU’s best finish of the weekend.
Chloe Duncan matched Keller’s record-breaking performance, setting new milestones in the 200 Individual Medley (2:28.10), 200 Butterfly (2:28.18) and 400 Individual Medley (5:24.87).
Keller, along with Bryce Holt, Josh Ekberg and Andrew Taflinger, set four school records in relay events. Ekberg, Holt, Taflinger and Tristan Wolfe set a fifth relay record in the 200 Freestyle relay.
“This weekend was a progress report to measure how our swimmers are progressing this season,” said Snare. “The results speak for themselves.
“I could not be prouder of this team and the continual improvement we keep seeing. I think that we are just starting to realize the potential we have.”
The Ravens will compete against Transylvania in a dual meet on Jan. 13. Barteau is looking forward to that meet with a great deal of optimism.
“We have grown so much from last year in both competition and community,” he explained. “Our men’s roster is larger, and we have a strong chance of winning the next two or three men’s meets.
“Our men’s team is still looking for its first win, so this is huge going into the halfway point of our second season.”
He cited diligence and accountability as the traits that will be required to overcome the adversity and distractions that have so far prevented the men’s team from breaking through the proverbial glass ceiling to earn their first win.