Columbus, GA – The second-ranked Patriots women's swimming & diving team is seeking their fourth consecutive podium finish as the NAIA National Championships gets underway tonight at the Columbus Aquatic Center.  Cumberlands has 11 swimmers competing at the national championships, including a plethora that are ranked in the top-ten in their respective individual events.

UC had a perfect 6-0 dual meet record this season before capturing their tenth straight Mid-South Conference championships last month.  UC has been ranked in the top-three of the NAIA poll in each of the last three polls as they climbed to second heading into the championships.  The Patriots recorded 813 points to win the MSC title, breaking three conference records in the process.
Cumberlands tallied 10 conference champions and 22 podium finishes over the three day championship, including sweeping the podium in the 200 free.  In addition to that the Patriots posted one-two finishes in both a pair of events, including the 100 free. 

Cumberlands has found tremendous success from their relays with all five relays being ranked in the top-five of the NAIA.  The Patriots set MSC records in the 200 free relay, 400 free relay, and 800 free relay, while their 200 medley relay is ranked second in the country with a time of 1:46.17.

Maria Basto is looking to cap off an impressive season as she is ranked in the top-three in a trio of events.  The Bogota, Colombia native broke the school record in the 100 back at the Union Invite and followed that up by going 56.77 at the conference championship. Basto has also gone 2:02.35 in the 200 back, which is the second fastest time in the country and in program history, while her 2:07.92 in the 200 IM is ranked third.

The MSC Swimmer of the Year, Hanne te Velthuis, comes into her first championship with the Patriots with three top-ten marks, including her 23.77 in the 50 free which is ranked third in the NAIA.  The sophomore also has holds the fifth fastest 200 free time and seventh fastest 100 free time. 

Freshman Ali Pecore looks to cap of her debut season competing in the 100 free, 200 free, and 500 free.  The Oshkosh, WI native went 5:06.21 to win the 500 free at the MSC Championships and is ranked fifth in heading into nationals.  She is poised to score in all three individual events.

Emma Lehmkuhl is ranked in the top eight on both the one-meter and three-meter board and will compete on both boards at nationals.  The four-time all-conference selection will be making her championship debut on Thursday. 

Additionally, UC has a trio of Patriots are ranked in the top-ten of their respective events.  Liberty Poley is ranked eighth in the 200 back with a mark of 2:07.68, while Anastasiia Shatalova's 52.51 in the 100 free is ranked tenth.  Isabella Cooksey has gone 5:09.21 in the 500 free to be ranked ninth and is ranked 12th in the 400 IM with a time of 4:40.83.  These swimmers can make an impact for UC in multiple events. 

Riley Cerqueira, Kayana Cook, Rebecca Loftus, and Leah Thomas add depth and versatility to Cumberlands rosters and can score points in multiple events over the four day championship.

The NAIA National Championships starts tonight's with the 800 free relay.  Thursday will kickoff the first full day of competition with prelims in the morning starting at 9 a.m. with finals beginning at 5 p.m.

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