Swimming teams break records during first day at Liberal Arts Championships

ELSAH, Ill. — The Simpson women's and men's swimming teams broke both individual and relay records on their first night of the Liberal Arts Championships on Thursday night.

"Today has been an exceptional day," head coach Tom Caccia said. "Having set so many school records on the first day is very rewarding for all the hard work the team has put in this season."

The men's 400 medley relay team of Tyler Marine, Dylan Gray, Cody Carlson and James McKee finished in eighth place with a time of 3:46.23. The four broke the school record in the prelims by almost five seconds for a time of 3:42.62.

The Storm women responded with a record of their own in the 400 medley relay. Cheyenne Wiederholt, Mikala Williams-Yee, Kayla Cary and Brenna Yeutsy finished in eighth with a time of 4:15.93 for a new school record.

The Storm men's 200 freestyle relay team of Gray, Carlson, Marine and McKee broke the school record in the finals for an eighth place finish with a time of 1:29.54.

Yeutsy, who broke the 500 freestyle record earlier this year in 5:34.73, improved it to 5:32.83 in the prelims. Her 15th place finish in the finals in 5:34.70 was still her second-best career time.

Similarly, Dylan Gray broke his own record in the 50 freestyle prelims with a time of 21.84. The previous record was 22.21, set by Gray back in 2014-15 season at the Liberal Arts Championships. Gray's eighth place final time of 22.13 was his second-best career time.

Yeutsy, Cassie Bergman, Wiederholt and Haley Blum finished seventh in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:46.46.

"We're anxious for day two," Caccia said.

STORM WOMEN TOP RESULTS
500 freestyle— 15. Brenna Yeutsy, 5:34.70 (record broken in prelims, 5:32.83)
200 freestyle relay — 7. Yeutsy, Bergman, Wiederholt, Blum, 1:46.46
400 medley relay — 8. Wiederholt, Williams-Yee, Cary, Yeutsy, 4:15.93 (new school record)

STORM MEN TOP RESULTS
50 freestyle — 8. Dylan Gray, 22.13 (record broken in prelims, 21.84)
200 freestyle relay — 8. Gray, Carlson, Marine, McKee, 1:29.54 (new school record)
400 medley relay — 8. Marine, Gray, Carlson, McKee, 3:46.23 (record broken in prelims, 3:42.62)

UP NEXT
The Storm teams continue through the weekend at the Liberal Arts Championships, hosted by Principia.