NMU Swimmers compete at NCAA Championships
Courtesy of NMU Athletics
GENEVA, Ohio – After the first day of competition on Wednesday at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Northern Michigan University’s junior Debbi Lawrence and freshman Rachel Borchardt have earned All-American status in their respective events. As a team, the Wildcats are currently in eighth place with 38 points.
“It was an incredible first night for the women as a team and individually,” said head coach Heidi Voigt. “We are sitting in eighth place in the team rankings with two All-Americans today. We have certainly set a great pace for the next three days to come.”
Lawrence finished fifth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23:15 setting an NMU record. Borchardt earned All-American status in the 1,000 freestyle with a personal best of 10:07.91, finishing in seventh place.
On the diving board, junior Molly Kearney placed 11th in the 3-meter, earning honorary All-American status.
Junior Tara Dowling also competed in the 1,000 freestyle, finishing 25th (10:29.79).
The 200 medley relay team of Lawrence, juniors Madisen Sechena <http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wswimdive/2013-14/bios/sechena_madisen_3hou> and Emily Bourguignon <http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wswimdive/2013-14/bios/bourguignon_emily_b54l> and sophomore Crystal Bennet <http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wswimdive/2013-14/bios/bennet_crystal_nj08> placed 14th, improving two places from preliminary earlier in the day. The relay team finished with a time of 1:44.30 setting an NMU record in the event.
NMU returns for day two of competition with preliminary races at 10:30 a.m. Thursday (March 13) followed by final races at 6 p.m.