GREENSBORO, NC – Lise Coetzee delivered a standout performance, winning the 200-meter freestyle to highlight the second day of competition for the Tulane Green Wave at the American Conference Swimming and Diving Championships. The championships are being held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, and Tulane improved its standing to fifth place overall with 459 points as of Thursday, February 19th. The team showcased depth with seven top-10 finishes in individual and relay events, and a total of 13 swimmers contributed to the scoring.
Coetzee’s winning time in the 200 free was a personal best of 1:46.77, earning her 32 team points. This victory adds to a successful championship run for Coetzee, who has already secured a medal in the first day of competition. The Green Wave continued to demonstrate strong performances across multiple events, building momentum as the championships progress.
Beyond Coetzee’s gold medal, Tulane swimmers achieved several notable results. Rafaela Sumida finished ninth in the 200 free with a time of 1:49.09, contributing 20 points to the team total. Phoebe Johnson similarly achieved a lifetime best, placing tenth with a time of 1:50.08 and earning 16 points. Sydney Mullin added a point for the team with a season-best time of 1:52.68 in the same event.
The Green Wave’s success wasn’t limited to the freestyle events. Andrea Zeebe secured a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley (IM) with a lifetime best time of 4:16.99, adding 25 points. Gwen Shahboz, Danielle Barberie, and Mary Kate Kupsky also contributed points in the 400 IM, finishing 12th, 14th, and 19th respectively. Eliza Lennox added to Tulane’s point total with a 10th-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly, clocking in at 54.22 seconds.
In diving events, Libby Brewer finished seventh in the 1-meter dive with a score of 249.75, earning 23 team points. The relay teams also contributed to Tulane’s success. The 200-meter free relay team, comprised of Lennox, Nicole Fant, Sumida, and Marin Shimkus, finished seventh with a time of 1:32.36, adding 46 points. The 400-meter free relay team of Zeebe, Ebba Holgersson, Lennox, and Coetzee also secured a seventh-place finish, posting a time of 3:41.51 for another 46 points.
Looking Ahead to Day Three
The Tulane swimming and diving team will continue competing on the third day of the American Conference Championships on Friday, February 20th. The day will start with preliminaries at 9:30 a.m., followed by swim finals at 5:00 p.m. The 3-meter diving preliminaries are scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m., with finals at 4:00 p.m. The events on the schedule for Friday include the 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter breaststroke, 200-meter butterfly, 3-meter diving, and the 800-meter free relay.
Fans interested in supporting the Green Wave can purchase tickets for men’s and women’s basketball seasons, as well as the baseball campaign, by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), visiting TulaneTix.com, or stopping by the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Stay updated with Tulane Swimming and Diving by following them on social media: @GreenWaveSwim on Twitter, @GreenWaveSwim on Instagram, and Tulane Swimming and Diving on Facebook. You can also follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Supporting the Green Wave Club provides crucial resources for Tulane student-athletes, enhancing their ability to excel both in competition and in the classroom. Donations can be made by calling (504) 865-5356, emailing [email protected], or visiting greenwaveclub.com.
As the American Conference Championships continue, the Tulane Green Wave will look to build on their strong performances and climb the leaderboard. The team’s dedication and talent are evident, and fans can anticipate exciting competition throughout the remainder of the meet.
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