Red Wave Swimmers Have Solid Performance at National Championships

Courtesy Henderson State University Athletics Department

Five members of the Henderson State swim team advanced to last week’s NCAA Division II National Championships in Birmingham, Ala.

Chelsea Leary was the lone Lady Red Wave participant, finishing 14th in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.46.

Four Red Wave competitors advanced to the championships including Nick James, Aaron Villemez, Robert Fisher, and Adam Milecz.

The foursome placed in four relay events beginning with a 16th-place finish in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:34.12 on the first day of competition.

On day two, the quartet finished in 13th place in the 200 freestyle relay by posting a time of 1:22.05.

James scored in an individual event by placing 15th in the 100 yard backstroke turning in a time of 49.31.

James swam the anchor leg of the 800 freestyle relay, with the team recording a time of 6:24.38 to place 11th.

Villemez swam the first leg of the 800 in a time of 1:43.31, with Fisher following with a split time of 1:39.78. Milecz was the third Red Wave member in the pool swimming his portion of the race in a time of 1:40.71. James’ finished the final 200 in a time of 1:39.47.

The Red Wave concluded the championships with a 12th place finish in the 400 freestyle relay having a time of 3:00.44.

Fisher swam the opening 100 yards in a time of 45.24, while Milecz was second in the pool having a split time of 44.40. Villemez swam his portion of the relay in 46.26, with James posting a time of 44.54 in the final 100 yards.

By finishing in the top 16 nationally, all five swimmers earned CSCAA All-American Honorable Mention honors. 

The Red Wave ended with 34 total team points to finish the championships in 20th place.