Men Finish 4th at AACs as Grace Boyce Wins Two Titles

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Freshman Grace Boyce went on to win the individual title in the 100 yard breaststroke final on Day 2 of the 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's and Women's Swimming Championship Meet on Friday. It was the Koala's first individual title in at least five years. She was also named AAC Newcomer of the Year by the conference after the meet as well.

The three-day event was held at the Kingsport Aquatic Center in the HMG Competition Pool in Kingsport, Tenn.

In the men's team competition, Milligan set a record with 1,041 points to win its sixth straight tournament. Rounding out the team scores, Tennessee Southern finished second with 518 points, WVU Tech was third with 418 points, while Columbia was fourth with 262 points, and Pikeville fifth with 192 points.

Freshman Connor Lommerse also finished 3rd of 8 (2nd in prelims) in the 100 yard backstroke in 52.77 seconds while he was 11th in the 50 Free in 23 seconds but 9th in the prelims out of 16 in 22.74 seconds. Lommerse then finished 9th out of 16 in the 100 Free in 50.15 seconds

In the men's 200 Medley Relay, the Koalas swam a time of 1:47 to place 5th but 7th overall with the team of Lommerse, freshman Za'Shawn Barr, sophomore Noah Jackson, and senior Stefan Merkel. The men's 800 Free relay team also placed 4th in 8:10 led by Barr, Lommerse, freshman Wyatt Krashner and Merkel with Lommerse recording the fastest legs.

Z. Barr then finished 9th of 16 in the 200 Free in 1:56 while Krashner was 10th in 2:06, Merkel 11th in 2:08 and Greyson Bryan in 12th in 2:11 while Barr was 5th in the 200 Back in 2:12.

For complete results, click here.