CANTON, Ohio – Highlighted by a pair of MEC individual championships, the Notre Dame College swimming and diving team competed at the annual GMAC/MEC Championship located at C.T. Branin Natatorium from Feb. 14-17.
Juan Nunez and
Luis Aguilar Delgado represented NDC on the podium during their MEC Championship swims, as they led the men's side to a fourth place showing in the MEC and sixth overall (520). The NDC women's team totaled 423 points and wrapped up the four-day event in fifth place in the MEC and eighth overall. Moreover, Nunez was named the Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Meet, the first Falcon in program history to earn the honor.
The Falcons got off to a hot start on day one of the championships as the relay of
Sydney Grzincic,
Jordan Stump,
Courtney Ledbetter and
Abrielle Junge picked up Second Team All-MEC in the 200 medley relay (1:51.02).
Juan Nunez earned his first career All-MEC selection with honorable mention in the 1,000 freestyle (9:52.78).
In the 200 IM,
Jordan Stump registered Honorable Mention (2:15.92), as
Luis Aguilar Delgado secured Second Team All-MEC 1:55.76.
Courtney Ledbetter took home the final individual honor for NDC on day one, picking up Second Team All-MEC in the 50 free. Ledbetter touched the wall at 24.74.
Both Falcon relays closed out the first day of action strong, by earning Honorable Mention All-MEC in the 200 free relay. First the women's relay of Lebetter,
Niela Dawlett, Stump and Junge swam a 1:41.20, followed by Nunez,
Kostadinos Floros-Angelinas,
Joshua Stokes and
Samuel Ganim swimming a 1:26.89.
Following conclusion of day one the NDC women totaled 150 points in third place in the MEC, as the men notched 163 points to also be seated third.
On day two of the championships, Nunez became an MEC Champion and earned First Team All-MEC honors with his performance in the 400 IM. Nunez recorded the best time in the MEC and the second fastest overall at 4:02.79. Moreover, the freshman set the NDC school record in the event.
The Falcons finished day two in fourth place on the women's side (206) and third on the men's side (266) amongst the MEC.
Nunez continued his impressive championships on day three as the distance freestyler grabbed Honorable Mention All-MEC in the 500 free (4:42.80).
In a tightly contested 100 breaststroke, Stump punched her ticket to Honorable Mention All-MEC (1:07.99), just .68 away from the MEC crown.
The Falcons earned their second MEC individual Championship as Aguilar Delgado touched the wall first in the 200 fly. The sophomore finished with a time of 1:55.59, good for third place overall.
After the conclusion of day three, Notre Dame stood in fifth place in the MEC on the women's side (294) and fourth place on the men's side (392).
On the fourth and final day, Aguilar Delgado set the NDC school record in the 200 breaststroke, swimming a 2:07.88 during prelims. In the evening during finals, the sophomore broke the NDC program record again and was tabbed Honorable Mention All-MEC, touching the wall at 2:05.28.
Also, in the 200 breaststroke, Stump earn Honorable Mention All-MEC (2:29.48).
Nunez secured another medal during the distance events by claiming Honorable Mention All-MEC in the 1,650 free (16:39.81).
Next, Ledbetter enjoyed Second Team All-MEC honors in the 100 free (53.99).
The quartet of Ledbetter, Dawlett,
Riley Monahan and Junge wrapped up the championships with Honorable Mention All-MEC in the 400 free relay (3:43.86).
In the end, Notre Dame wrapped up the 2024 GMAC/MEC Championships with a fifth place MEC showing (eighth overall) on the women's side (423), as the men tallied 520 points in fourth place in the MEC (sixth overall).
