Braves pose after taking home championship honors. Submitted photo/Oscar Roverato
By: Hunter Locklear
The Braves traveled to Greensboro, NC. to take part in the Guilford College Invitational, where the team found success. The Nov. 6 meet saw the Braves swim their way to six first place finishes in the event, while also getting championship honors.
The Braves were active and competitive in every event, with the team winning big in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team posted invitational best 1:37.98, with swimmers Mariel Mencia Martinez, Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos, Nathalia Silva and Gillian Manning leading the way to capture first place finish.
In the 100-yard butterfly swim, senior Gillian Manning posted a time of 57 seconds to take home top honors, while Mariel Mencia Martinez got runner up to place 2nd. Manning also was runner up in the 100-yard backstroke swim, with a time of 1:00.32.
The 100-yard Breaststroke belonged to Ianna Gomez Veloz, who broke a short lived 7-month school record for time in the 100-yard Breaststroke, with the time being 1:05.85.
100-yard Freestyle swim saw Mariel Menica Martinez take the number one spot, with Gillian Manning getting runner up. Martinez posted 52.18 seconds, while Manning posted 52.71 seconds.
The 50-yard freestyle also saw Martinez taking top of the podium, with Manning following up behind her again in 2nd. Martinez posted a time of 24.01 seconds, and Manning posted a time of 24.45 seconds.
The 200-yard Medley Relay swim saw Gillian Manning, Ianna Gomez Veloz, Mariel Mencia Martinez, and Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos posting a total time of 1:47.78 in a record breaking performance time for the program’s history, while also taking top honors in that swim as well.
The day was capped off with the 200-yard Freestyle swim, where Gillian Manning would finish first with a time of 1:52.97. Braves Nathalia Silva followed her with the runner up spot in 2nd, with a time of 1:56.63.
“It was an amazing opportunity to have the chance to swim in the Guilford Invitational. The team and I were really excited to represent the Braves at a meet this size and bring home a victory,” Manning said.
Manning had a big day taking home two freestyle swim top honors and picking up the B Standard NCAA Conference Swimmer of the Week award.
Manning also played a big part in the 200-yard Medley Relay and 200-yard freestyle relay to help the Braves capture 1st in both swims.
“I was very happy with my performance. I was fortunate to have teammates next to me… we were able to motivate and push each other,” Manning said.
With the team’s success in the Guilford College Invitational, as well as great individual performances throughout the evening, Manning feels the team is just hitting its stride and is more prepared than ever to compete in upcoming events.
“All the girls swam well at this meet and this continues to build our confidence and determination both in practice and towards the coming meets,” Manning said.
Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos, who also had pivotal performances in the 200-yard Medley Relay and 200-yard freestyle relay, expressed the team’s emotions after a long day of successful swimming.
“Our team is really happy and proud of our results at the meets and this continues to motivate us at practice and for the coming meets,” said Matos. “It was an amazing experience swimming at such a big swim meet and being able to bring home another victory.”
The Braves swimming team will be back in action on Nov.18-20, where they will travel to Cary, NC to take part in the William Peace Invitational in the Triangle.