3 Whitman Swimmers Qualify for NCAA Championships
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The Whitman Missionaries will be sending three swimmers to the NCAA Division III Championships this March 20 - 23 in Shenendoah, Texas -- the qualifiers being released at 5 pm PST today. Taking to the water for Whitman will be Claire Collins (Jr., Burlingame, CA) who is the second female Whitman swimmer to post a qualifying time since the program joined the NCAA in the late '90s.On the men's side, Galen Sollom-Brotherton (Jr., Dublin, CA) and Karl Mering (So., Boise, ID) will make their second straight trip to the NCAA meet.
”We are so excited for Nationals!" exclaimed head coach Jenn Blomme. "It is getting harder and harder to get invited to the meet, and it is such a privilege to participate in a meet of this caliber. Now that it's official, our swimmers are directing their attention to not just getting into the meet, but what we are capable of doing there."
Claire Collins, Jr.
Collins qualified in the 100 breaststroke with the 11th fastest time this season (1:04.45). Each swimmer who qualifies is eligible to swim in two other races at the Championships, so Collins will also participate in the 200 IM and the 200 breast.
Galen Sollom-Brotherton, Jr.
Sollom-Brotherton, the 2012 NWC Outstanding Male Swimmer, qualified in two events: the 1,650 freestyle with the 10th best national time (15:47.53) and the 500 free where he clocked a 4:31.38 -- 11th fastest this season. He will also swim in the 200 free as his optional.
The 2013 NWC Outstanding Male Swimmer, Karl Mering, automatically qualified for the 100 butterfly with the 3rd fastest time (48.59). In Shenendoah, Mering will also take to the blocks in the 200 fly and the 100 free.
Karl Mering, So.
Three Missionaries going the NCAA Championships for the first time in the program's history is just another hallmark to an already memorable season. In addition to Mering's honor at the NWC Championships, head Coach Jenn Blomme was named Male Coach of the Year -- her sixth time to receive COY honors while at Whitman. The men won the regular season title with a 7 - 0 mark that included dual meet victory over Whitworth, ending the Pirates 90 dual meeting winning streak, and the team setting 20 new school records at the NWC meet in Federal Way, Washington.
For an entire listing of the NCAA Chamionships field visit http://www.ncaa.com/news/swimming-men/article/2013-02-27/unofficial-diii-qualification-lists-released
Contact:
Andrew Holt
Whitman Sports Information Director
509.527.5902
345 Boyer Ave.