Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving

Men Beat Mount St. Mary’s, Women Have Top Performers

VMI swimming and diving had a strong day at home Nov. 2, 2024, with the men’s team securing their first win and the women’s team showcasing top performances.

Men’s

VMI men’s swimming and diving tallied their first win after taking down Mount St. Mary’s at home Nov. 2, 2024.

The Keydets had 10 first-place winners en route to a 193-101 team victory over the Mountaineers.

Jack Mills ’28 dazzled again, breaking his own rat and team records in the 200 butterfly with a first-place finishing time of 1:53.32. Mills also swam to first place in the 100 freestyle.

Also earning first-place marks for the Keydets was Stephen Russell ’28, who won the 1,000 freestyle (9:56.88) and 500 freestyle (4:47.11). Sam Calder ’28 tallied first in the 200 freestyle (1:43.08), while Matthew Picard ’27 recorded a season-best time of 21.31 in the 50 freestyle for first place. Closing out the individual winners’ list was Ethan Griffith ’25 in the 200 IM (1:58.36).

VMI sealed the victory after the 400 freestyle relay team consisting of Picard, Calder, Mills, and Joshua Wolf ’28 swam to first with a mark of 3:07.18.

On the boards, Lane Jones ’26 stood above the rest in both the 1- and 3-meter dives, tallying 248.77 in the 1-meter and 265.72 in the 3-meter for new season highs. Ryder Creal ’27, Craig Swain ’25, and Zach Richardson ’28 each secured new season bests with their respective dives.

Between the men and women, there were 22 new program top 10 times. From the men, it was Russell (1,000 freestyle and 500 freestyle), Aubrey Struder ’28 (1,000 freestyle), Calder (200 freestyle and 100 freestyle), Toby Schwenk ’28 (200 freestyle and 500 freestyle), Wolf (100 backstroke and 200 backstroke), Caleb Wolf ’28 (200 butterfly and 500 freestyle), Mills (200 butterfly, 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly), and Kayleb Eldridge ’28 (200 butterfly).

Women’s

VMI women’s swimming and diving had top performers in the home opener at Goodall Pool, as well.

Emerson Cosner ’28 broke her own rat year and team records in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2 minutes and 11.93 seconds. Mackenzie Byrne ’28 set a new rat record in the 50 freestyle with a first-place mark of 24.41. Byrne also placed first in the 100 freestyle with a mark of 54.27, just one second shy of breaking the rat and team records.

On the boards, Isabelle Haer ’28 took home first place in both one- and three-meter dives. Ollie Hobbs ’28 also performed well on both dives as each diver nabbed personal bests.

Between the all Keydet swimmers, there were 22 new program top 10 finishes. Representing the women were Parker Belle Fogle ’28 (100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke), Sarah Fitzsimmons ’27 (100 breaststroke), Cosner (200 butterfly and 500 freestyle), Byrne (50 freestyle and 100 freestyle), and Makynna Smith ’28 (100 butterfly). Despite the stellar performances, the Keydets fell to Mountaineers, 171-110.

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VMI Swimming & Diving Secures Road Victory in Tri-Meet

VMI men’s swimming & diving picked up a dominating 231-61 victory over the Peacocks but dropped its battle against the Retrievers, 178-121, to move to 2-2 on the young season. With the women’s team also earning a win over Saint Peter’s, it was the first time in 10 years that both teams beat an NCAA Division I team on the same day.

Men’s

VMI men’s swimming and diving split its weekend matchups between UMBC and Saint Peter’s at UMBC Aquatic Complex Nov. 9.

The Keydets picked up a dominating 231-61 victory over the Peacocks but dropped its battle against the Retrievers, 178-121, to move to 2-2 on the young season. With the women also earning a win over Saint Peter’s, it was the first time in 10 years that both teams beat an NCAA Division I team on the same day.

Russell secured first place and a new VMI top 10 time in the 1,000 freestyle (9:55.80) for a new season best, followed by a victory finish in the 500 freestyle (4:49.37). Mills tallied a first-place mark and VMI top 10 time in the 200 freestyle (1:40.86) before earning first in the 100 butterfly (51.76). He also recorded second in the 100 freestyle (46.70).

Sam Castle ’27 swam to victory in the 100 backstroke (51.44) and 200 backstroke (1:55.42) for two new season records. Joshua Wolf finished in third place in the 100 backstroke (53.28), while Calder reached third place in the 200 freestyle (1:44.30).

Wolf (1:57.04) and Eldridge (1:57.64) went second and third, respectively, in the 200 butterfly. Wolf would go on to finish third in the 500 freestyle (4:52.85). Picard nabbed second place in the 50 freestyle (21.84), followed by a third-place mark in the 100 freestyle (47.00) for a new season best. Griffith set a new personal record in the 200 breaststroke (1:12.71).

The 400 freestyle relay group of Picard, Mills, Castle, and Calder took home second place (3:08.17).

In total, the Keydets had 12 event wins over Saint Peter’s and six event wins over UMBC.

Women’s

VMI women’s swimming and diving earned a massive win on the road against Saint Peter’s at the UMBC Aquatic Complex Nov. 9. Cosner and Byrne lifted the Keydets to some big point totals. Cosner secured second in the 500 freestyle (5:33.60) along with third in the 200 freestyle (2:00.41) before winning the 200 butterfly (2:15.18). Cosner’s 200 freestyle mark is a VMI top 10 time. Byrne won the 100 butterfly (1:00.42), nabbed second place in the 50 freestyle (25.08), and tallied a third-place mark in the 100 freestyle (54.65). The Keydets also got some insurance from Tong, who placed third in the 100 backstroke (1:02.91), and Walden Wilder, who secured second in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.50). On the boards, Haer set a new personal record in the one-meter dive (212.10), with Ollie Hobbs earning a fifth-place mark in the three-meter (149.10).

In total, the Keydets tallied 10 event wins over the Peacocks. VMI also took on fellow America East foe, UMBC, but fell to the Retrievers, 222-72.

Editor’s Note: These articles were first published at vmikeydets.com.