Ephs Women Swimmers Take Four Titles
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Thompson got in on the title parade when she turned her third best time in the morning prelims into her first NCAA individual title in capturing the 200 freestyle. Thompson took a slight lead with about 60 yards to go and held on to claim top honors, winning in 1:50.27, .67 faster than in the morning.
Thompson had punched her ticket to the night finals by coming in third in 1:50.94, just .12 off the pace set by top finisher Sarah Rinsma of Johns Hopkins.
The Ephs did not rely on just individual efforts alone on the night as they saved their best for last when they captured the final event the 400 medley relay.
The Eph 400 medley relay of Thompson, Rebecca Maher, Todhunter and Carolyn Geller secured a spot in the evening finals when they captured third place in the morning prelims with a time of 3:47.02, but that only served as an advertisement for the night final.
In the night time finals head coach Steve Kuster substituted Wilson for Rebecca Maher. Trialing slightly after the first two swimmers Todhunter added another impressive 100 butterfly and boosted the Ephs into a lead as Geller entered the pool for the final 100 freestyle. Geller slightly extended the lead Todhunter gave her and brought the Ephs home first with a meet record time of 3:42.21 to cap off a great day of swimming for the Ephs.
Day two at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships opened with the Ephs in second place behind Emory University by 80 points. At evening’s end, even with three individual titles and a relay title on the night, the Ephs were still in second place with 261 points. The depth of the Emory team has them in first place with 348 points.
Wilson, a two-time champion in the 400 Individual Medley, led the morning prelim times when she came home in a time of 4:20.35. Joining Wilson in the night’s finals was senior Bonnie Patchen who claimed seventh in the morning in a time of 4:27.19. Patchen was seeded 14th entering the meet and her climb into the finals was another highlight on the day.
Wilson easily defended her status as the top 400 IMer and she broke her own meet record set in 2011 (4:13.90) by coming home in 4:13.14. Wilson’s margin of victory was 6.5 seconds and gave her the 400 IM title for the third year in a row. The title was her seventh individual NCAA crown.
Todhunter entered the morning prelims tied with Victoria Masny of Dension for the season’s best time in the 100 butterfly (55.28). Swimming in different heats Todhunter was timed in 52.91 and established the fastest morning time, while Masny finished in 55.66 (5th). Todhunter won the three previous 100 butterfly titles and was looking to cement her dominance in the championship finals by extending her streak to four years.
Todhunter’s morning prelim time of 52.91 was just .07 off her NCAA record in the event that she set last year.
Todhunter claimed her fourth consecutive 100 butterfly crown with a winning time of 53.04. The win also established a new Williams record for most individual NCAA titles by a female swimmer at Williams – 10. The 10th title also tied Todhunter with Erin Anderson ’00 with 10 overall titles in NCAA championships. Anderson won 9 individual titles and was a member of one winning relay. The 400 medley relay title now boosts Todhunter's total to a Williams record 11 titles.
