NAIA Top 10 Poll

Kansas City, MO – The UC women's swimming & diving team has gotten off to a strong start going 3-0 on the year with a plethora of great performances in the early going.   Those performance are highlighted by 23 swims that rank in the top 15 of the NAIA aided the Patriots as they are ranked sixth in the initial NAIA Coaches' Poll, released by the national office Friday.

Cumberlands has 14 performances that rank in the top of the respective event and eight that are in the top-five.  Leading the way for UC are Maria Basto, Hanne te Velthuis, and Emma Lehmkuhl.  Basto has been the most versatile swimmer being ranked in the top-ten in four events.  The sophomore clocked a 57.88, achieving the NAIA "A" standard as that time is the third fastest in the country.  Basto holds the sixth fastest time in both the 200 back (2:09.85) and the 100 fly (59.26), while being ranked eighth in the 200 IM after she went 2:13.67.

Te Velthuis holds a pair of top-five marks after being ranked third in both the 50 free and 100 free.  The sophomore touched the wall in 24.57 and 53.70, respectfully, against Shawnee State to earn her spot inside the top-five of the national ranking.  Lehmkuhl also holds a pair of top-five rankings in diving as she is coming off of a career-best score of 215.35

Ali Pecore holds a top five ranking in the 500 free, where she posted a time of 5:18.52.  That earned the freshman the fourth fastest time in the NAIA.   The Oshkosh, WI native is also ranked eighth in the 100 free with a mark of 54.46, while she clocked a 1:59.38 in the 200 free to earn her third ranking.

One additional Patriot is ranked in a trio of events and that is Aurora Stavoy.  The Sortland, Norway native has shown off her versatility going 25.15 in the 50 free, 2:00.25 in the 200 free, and a 1:00.72 in the 100 fly.  Stavoy is ranked in the to-15 in each of those events.

Anastasiia Shatalova holds a pair of national cuts in the freestyle events.  She is ranked 15^th in both the 100 free and 200 free with times of 54.87 and 2:00.43, respectfully.

UC has three additional swimmers in the rankings.  Brianna Bender has gone 5:25.37 in the 500 free to be ranked 13^th, while Isabella Cooksey and Liberty Poley are ranked 11^th and 12^th, respectfully in the 200 back.

The Patriots have four relays ranked in the top-ten of the NAIA, including the 200 medley relay that holds the seconds fastest time in the country at 1:49.89.

Keiser earned 517.18 points to be ranked atop the poll, while Olivet Nazarene and SCAD are ranked second and third, respectfully.  The Patriots are one of four MSC schools to be mentioned.

UC will return to the water Thursday, November 18, when they travel to Barbourville, KY for the Bulldogs Mid-Season Invite.
 
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