Women’s Swim and Dive makes vast improvements at conference championships

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Swimming and Diving squad tackled the four-day Summit League Championships this week in Minneapolis, Minnesota with conference implications on the line. USI broke nine school records this weekend and placed seventh among the highly competitive field.
 
The women improved vastly from the 2022-23 season showing they clearly belonged among a tough Summit League field. The women reached as high as sixth place in the standings. The progress will continue to motivate the Eagles as they take steps forward in year two of the program’s existence.
 
Day 1
USI got off to a hot start on opening night breaking records in both relay events. Sophomore Makana Goss (Noblesville, Indiana), Freshman Hayden Shurtz (Ft. Wayne, Indiana), sophomore Sarah-Catherine Dawson (Prospect, Kentucky), and Hallie Meier (Plainfield, Indiana) broke the 200 yard medley relay (1:46.82) to start the night.  
 
Freshman Reagan Holmes (Henderson, Nevada), sophomore Mattilynn Smith (Morgantown, Kentucky), freshman Caiya Cooper (LaPorte, Indiana), and Meier dazzled in the 800 yard freestyle relay (7:43.01). Both events set the tone for the rest of the week.
 
Day 2
The second day brought a lit bit of everything with 15 Eagles earning season bests. Cooper is going to be a force for years to come, shattering records all week. She broke the 500 yard freestyle record on day two (5:05.04).
 
Next, USI compiled a 200 yard freestyle relay team of four freshman Ella Johnson (Owensboro, Kentucky), Meier, Holmes, and Cooper to earn the school record (1:39.23).
 
Day 3
The third day brought three new school records and 16 swimmers earning season bests as USI crept into sixth place, passing Eastern Illinois University.
 
Cooper continued her tear with a blazing start in the 200 yard freestyle (1:53.99). Another key contributor for the Eagles all season long was Shurtz who just missed the A-finals in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:03.99). Holmes is another freshman phenom who broke the 50 yard freestyle record (24.52).
 
Freshman Naomi Weaver (Greenwood, Indiana), Shurtz, Dawson, and Cooper finished the night with the 400 yard medley relay record (3:54.34).
 
Day 4
USI finished the final day with 15 season bests and two additional records. The Eagles just barely slid into seventh place on the day behind St. Thomas University.
 
Holmes continued her tear with a shifty 100 yard freestyle performance (52.94). Shurtz followed up with her signature 200 yard breaststroke event earning a school record (2:22.72).
 
Final Results

  1. Denver
  2. South Dakota
  3. Lindenwood
  4. Nebraska Omaha
  5. South Dakota State
  6. St. Thomas
  7. Southern Indiana
  8. Eastern Illinois

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