Gardner-Webb, an unanimous pick to win the 2007 NEC women’s swimming championship, made good on the predication, winning the 2007 NEC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship. For the second consecutive year, VMI took the men’s invitational title.
Gardner-Webb senior Terra Wilson (Potter Valley, CA/Deep Valley Christian) earns her third Outstanding Swimmer of the Year honor after leading the Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive NEC title. Wilson won all three of her individual events en route to breaking three meet records and making NCAA “A” cuts in two events. In her first event, the 200 individual medley, Wilson touched in meet record-breaking fashion with a time of 2:03.26, which is an NCAA “B” cut. In the prelims of her next event, the 200 free, she qualified for NCAA’s with a time of 1:46.72, also a meet record. Her final meet record, in the 100 free, was clocked in 49.52 in the 100 free. Wilson then broke that, making her second NCAA “A” cut on the night, leading off the 400 free relay with a flat-start split of 47.35.
Outstanding Rookie of the Meet went to freshman Mackenzie Garrot (Fayetteville, GA/Starr’s Mill) of Georgia Southern University. Garrot took home two individual first place finishes in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. Garrot touched in 1:05.64 in the 100 and won the 200 in a time of 2:22.97.
For the second consecutive year, Central Connecticut State sophomore Kristen Rossi (Southington, CT/Southington) earned Outstanding Diver of the Meet. Rossi won the low board with a score of 193.70 and took second on the three-meter with a final score of 187.60.
Florida A&M took two of the top awards on the night, with Mujahid El-Amin (Atlanta, GA/WD Mohammed) earning Most Outstanding Swimmer and freshman diver William McNight III (Chicago, IL/Kenwood) being tabbled Most Outstanding Diver. El-Amin won all three of his individual events and broke two meet records. He won the 200 IM in a time of 1:55.36 and his time of 49.26 in the 100 fly was good for a conference record. El-Amin also won the 200 fly in 1:54.53. Leading off the 200 free relay, El-Amin posted a conference-best with a time of 20.78 in the 50 free.
McKnight won both diving events for the Rattlers. His score of 183.80 topped the competition on the one-meter board and he won the three-meter in 184.20.
Howard freshman Miguel Orellana was named Most Outstanding Rookie, after winning the 400 individual medley and taking two silver medals in the 200 free and 200 fly. In the 400 IM, Orellana bested his prelim time by six seconds, to blow away the field and finish first in 4:18.08. His times of 1:46.02 and 2:02.03 in the 200 free and 200 fly, respectively, were good for second place.
The 2007 NEC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships took place from Thursday, February 15th through Saturday, February 17th at the P.G. County Sports Complex in Landover, MD.