Converse Swim Teams Finish Third On Opening Day of Conference Carolinas Swimming and Diving Championships

KINGSPORT, TENN. .- It was a historic day for the Converse University swim programs as both teams ended the first day of competition in third place. The women tallied 82 total points, while the men's team tallied 87 points on Wednesday evening. 

The relay teams highlighted the evening for the Valkyries on Wednesday, as the women's 200-yard medley relay team set a school record with a time of 1:47.21. The relay team of Milly Byrne, Laureen Roussel, Ansley Young and Katie Beebe finished third overall in the event. 

The women's team continued their success in the 800 free relay. The team of Young, Byrne and the Beebe sisters claimed the second podium of the night with a third place finish in the event. Individually, Julia Beebe made it on to the podium with a sixth place finish in the 1,000 yard free event. 

On the men's side, Micah Lesley made history by becoming the first male swimmer to make it on the podium at the Conference Carolinas Championships. The freshman finished the 1,000 yard free event with a time of 10:06.42 and placed sixth overall. Henry Winstead and Kirill Lyzhin rounded out the top-10 in the competition with ninth and 10th place respectively. 

Men's Notes:

• In the 1000 Free Micah Lesley, Henry Winstead, Kirill Lyzhin, and Ben Huston finished 6th, 9th, 10th, and 13th respectively.

• In the 200 Medley Relay, the team consisting of Lyzhin, Daniel Merzthal, Landon Duffie, and Keith Rogers finished 5th with a time of 1:39.37.

• In the 800 Free Relay, the team consisting of Lesley, Merzthal, Winstead, and Rogers finished 6th with a time of 7:11.26.

Women's Notes:

• In the 1000 Free Kochert, Julia Beebe, Kaitlin Williams, and Jess Kochert finished 6th, 12th, and 18th respectively.

• In the 200 Medley Relay, the team consisting of Milly Byrne, Laureen Roussel, Ansley Young,  and Katie Beebe finished 3rd with a time of 1:47.21.

• In the 800 Free Relay, the team consisting of Young, Byrne, K. Beebe, and J. Beebe finished 3rd with a time of 7:53.41.

Day two of the Conference Carolinas Championships will start at 10:00 a.m. with the women's 500-yard free event.