Lommerse Leads Koala Men With School Record
LEXINGTON, VA - Columbia College freshman men's swimmer Connor Lommerse set a school record in the 100 yard backstroke swimming a time of 54.85 seconds in the finals to place 14th overall out of 27 swimmers in the VMI Keydet Midseason Invite in Virginia on Saturday.
The meet consisted of NCAA Div. I VMI along with NAIA foe Milligan (TN) and Div. III foes such as Bridgewater College (Va.), Greensboro College (NC), William Peace (NC), Roanoke College (Va.), U. of Lynchburg (Va.), and Southern VA University.
The Koala 200 yard Free Relay team then placed 8th overall in a time of 1:36.49 seconds on Friday and was made up of freshmen Deon Ellisor and Za'Shawn Barr, junior Stefan Merkel and Lommerse swimming the anchor leg in 23 seconds. Also on Friday, freshman Wyatt Krashner placed 27th out of 30+ in the 500 yard Freestyle in 5:39 while Jamal Johnson was 30th in 6:21. Barr then finished 32nd out of 40 in the 200 IM in a time of 2:16.67.
In the 50 Free Finals on Friday evening, Lommerse finished 50th out of 70 in a time of 23.5 seconds while Ellisor was 58th in 24.9 seconds. Merkel was also 63rd in 25.9 seconds while Noah Jackson was right behind in 65th in 26.4 seconds. Finally, in the 400 yard Medley Relay on Friday evening, the Koalas finished 6th of 9 in a time of 4 minutes and consisted of Lommerse, Barr, Jackson, and Ellisor.
On Saturday in the 100 fly, Ellisor led CC placing 38th in 1 minute flat while Krashner was 40th in 1:02.5 and Jackson 42nd in 1:04. Then, in the 200 Freestyle, Barr led the Koalas placing 29th out of 41 in a time of 1:57.18 while Krashner was 33rd in 2:08.
During the relay on Saturday, the Koalas finished 8th in the 200 Medley in a time of 1:49.28 consisting of Lommerse, Barr, Jackson, and Ellisor in the anchor leg. Barr then placed 19th in the 200 yard Backstroke finals on Sunday in a time of 2:17.8 seconds.
Lommerse then led a pack of Koalas in the 100 Free placing 28th out of 55 in 50.9 seconds while Ellisor was 40th in 53 seconds. Merkel was also 45th in 56.3 seconds.
The swim team has now finished up their fall season and will next take to the pool in January when they head up the road to Spartanburg to battle Converse University.
