Tampa Women Repeat As Bluegrass Mountain Conference Champions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The University of Tampa women's swimming team captured its second straight Bluegrass Mountain Conference championship as the Spartan men finished second among the 13 team field.

Tampa ran away with the women's crown, posting 714 points. The second place Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays had 547 points. Tampa head coach Ed Brennan was named the Bob Busby Award winner for women's Coach of the Year. Spartan senior Jessie Bardin (St. Petersburg, Fla.) earned BGMC Swimmer of the Year laurels.

In men's action, host Wingate University completed the four-day event with 636 points. UT had 624 points. The Bulldogs led by only six points entering the final event of the day, the 400 Freestyle Relay. Wingate head coach Kirk Sanocki was named the Bob Busby Award winner for men's Coach of the Year. Bulldog senior Mason Norman (Duluth, Ga.) earned BGMC Swimmer of the Year laurels.

In the final day of competition, Ellie Eshleman conquered the 200 Back with a time of 2:04.30. Bardin was also second in 100 Free at 52.54.

Emilee Margiotta and Lindsay Calimer finished second and third respectively in the 200 Fly. The pair notched times of 2:06.08 and 2:07.94.

The UT 400 Free Relay team swam to a second place finish with a time of 3:29.51. The team included Eshleman, Stephanie Branham, Allison Vetter and Bardin.

On Saturday in men's action, Roman Dagesh won the 200 Fly (1:51.78) while fellow Spartan Paul LaPorta took third place in the event. Jeff Fiore concluded his outstanding BGMC showing with a third place showing in 100 Free (45.92).

Tampa's 400 Free Relay team captured second place honors as the group of David Humphrey, Fiore, Frank Kuchta and Patrick Murray completed the race in 3:03.61.

UT will next compete at the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's $wimming and Diving Championships at Canton, Ohio. The championships are scheduled to begin on Wed., Mar. 10 and conclude on Sat., Mar. 13.

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