Liberty University
CCSA Swimming & Diving Championships
Liberty Shines on Opening Night at CCSA's, Builds Early Lead
2/16/2022 9:26:56 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Three-time defending conference champion Liberty is off to a strong start to the 2022 CCSA Championships, leading by nearly 90 points after the opening day, Wednesday at Liberty Natatorium.
Liberty, hosting the CCSA Championships for the second year in a row and third time in program history, lead with 527 points, followed by FGCU with 438. UNC Asheville sits in third place at 319, while Incarnate Word (292.50) is fourth.
Team Standings
1. Liberty – 527
2. FGCU – 438
3. UNC Asheville - 319
4. Incarnate Word – 292.5
5. Georgia Southern - 206
6. Campbell - 178
7. Gardner-Webb – 122.5
8. North Florida – 96
9. Bellarmine – 65
Liberty A Finalists
• 200 medley relay – 2nd place in 1:40.29 (Abbie Shaw (25.01), Jessica Schellenboom (27.79), Sydney Stricklin (24.43), Sydney Houtz (23.06))
• Sr. Lauren Chennault – Three-Meter Diving (6) (2nd place in 313.30)
• So. Maddie Freece – Three-Meter Diving (6) (3rd place in 305.90)
• Sr. Olivia Robinson – Three-Meter Diving (6) (6th place in 265.35)
• Sr. Abigail Egolf-Jensen – Three-Meter Diving (6) (7th place in 252.95)
• So. Allie Hallstrand – Three-Meter Diving (6) (8th place in 250.50)
• Sr. Emma Hazel – 500 freestyle (1st place in 4:57.22)
• So. Abby Strohmeier – 500 freestyle (3rd place in 4:59.40)
• Fr. Emmy Gallion – 500 freestyle (4th place in 5:00.55)
• So. Chloe Harris – 200 IM (3rd place in 2:01.82)
• Jr. Jessica Schellenboom – 200 IM (4th place in 2:02.04)
• Fr. Kate Baker – 200 IM (5th place in 2:03.84)
• Fr. Grace Isaacs – 200 IM (6th place in 2:04.47)
• Fr. Sydney Stricklin – 50 freestyle (5th place in 23.01)
• So. Sydney Houtz – 50 freestyle (7th place in 23.50)
Notable
• Liberty posted 15 top-nine finishes on Wednesday night, including six podium finishes, one event victory and two NCAA Zone Qualifying score.
• Hazel earned her first career CCSA individual event title, winning the 500 freestyle in 4:57.22. She is the second Lady Flame to win the CCSA 500 free title and first since Emily Manly in 2019.
• Hazel and fellow aviation major Lauren Chennault are now tied for Liberty’s active career lead with seven CCSA podium finishes each after both athletes earned a top-three finish tonight.
• Liberty sent five divers to the A Final, with all five improving on their prelims scores. Lauren Chennault took second with 313.30 points, followed by Maddie Freece in third with 305.90. Both Chennault and Freece have now earned qualification to the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
• Abby Strohmeier earned her second career CCSA podium finish, placing third in the 500 freestyle. She placed third in the 200 freestyle at the 2021 CCSA Championships.
• Sophomore Chloe Harris took third place in the 200 IM for the second year in a row. It was her third career CCSA podium finish, as she placed third in both the 200 IM and 400 IM last year.
• The Lady Flames’ 200 medley relay earned a second-place finish to begin the evening session.
Historically Speaking
• This is the fourth year in a row that Liberty has had two divers on the podium for three-meter diving. Chennault has made the top three in three-meter diving all four years.
• Freece’s 305.90 three-meter diving score is good for second in program history, as she joins Chennault as the two Lady Flames who have topped 300 points in three-meter diving. Allie Hallstrand (250.50) is now ranked fifth on Liberty’s all-time top 10 list in three-meter diving.
• Harris moved up to fourth place in program history with her 2:01.82 in the 200 IM, while Jessica Schellenboom’s 2:02.04 is good for fifth on Liberty’s top 10 list.
• With her leadoff leg in the 200 medley relay, her 25.01 for 50 backstroke ranks third in program history behind only Payton Keiner (24.82) and Kendall Hough (24.97).
• The Lady Flames’ 200 medley relay time of 1:40.29 is eighth on the program’s all-time top 10 list in the event.
• Stricklin is now ranked 10th all-time at Liberty in the 50 freestyle with her 23.01 tonight.
Up Next
Tomorrow’s action on day two of the 2022 CCSA Swimming & Diving Championships begins at 10 a.m. with exhibition heats of the 200 freestyle relay. Thursday’s program will also feature the 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle and 400 medley relay.
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