Shreveport – The Centenary swimming program will begin its 2022-23 season on Saturday with a non-conference dual meet at home versus the University of the Ozarks Eagles set for Noon at the Centenary Fitness Center (FIT).
Live video is available for the meet at the link below: https://collegetvticket.com/event/centenary-college-vs-university-of-the-ozarks/
A new era in the program begins this season as Thomas Radam takes over as head coach of the Ladies and Gents and longtime coach Butch Jordan will serve as assistant coach. Radam, a native of Alexandria, Va., comes to Centenary from the Tri-Star Master Swimming USMS Gold Club in Flower Mound, Texas.
"We will face some pretty stiff competition in the conference this year," said Radam. Based on our training and conditioning over the past three weeks, I believe we will be up for the challenge," said Radam.
"The majority of our meets are at home this year which should be incredibly beneficial to some of our newest and youngest team members."
Jordan begins his 22nd year and third season as an assistant coach with the Centenary men's and women's swimming program this season. He served as head coach of the Maroon and White for 19 seasons, as he guided the Ladies and Gents since the inception of the program beginning with the 2001-02 season until the 2019-20 season.
The Ladies finished fourth at the 2022 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships last season as they earned 363 points for the event. The Gents finished seventh, earning 173 points. Sophomore Madeline Vacula (Belton, Texas) highlighted the final day of competition at the conference championships as she earned all-conference honors after finishing third in the 1650 Yard Freestyle, swimming a time of 17:56.27. Her time at the 1,000 split (10:51.54) is the fourth-fastest 1,000 time in school history.
"On the Men's side, though we lost several members to graduation last year, we have three returning underclassmen this season in junior Antonio Barbee (Plaquemine, La.), junior Aiden Peterkin (Zachary, La.). and sophomore Nathaniel Batiste Jr. (Vacherie, La.) who will provide the leadership to our newest Gents – freshman Jameson Feeney (Shreveport, La.) and freshman Donovan Tohill (Lumberton, Texas)," said Radam.
"On the Women's side, we have three returning members for their senior year – Christine Goodman (Alexandria, La.), Camryn Hebert (Youngsville, La.), and Katie Malicoat (Wichita, Kan.). In addition, we have two new Ladies in freshman Adriana de la Fuente (Baton Rouge, La.) and freshman Emma Allsopp (Belfast, Northern Ireland), both of whom will see their first-ever action in collegiate swimming this year."
Sophomore Madeline Vacula (Belton, Texas), who was an individual finalist in last year's SCAC Championships, returns for her second season and should provide another incredible seasonal swimming performance. Juniors Bryn Jenkins (Houston, Texas) and Anacelia Galeano Balam (Baton Rouge, La.) are also back as part of a deep and talented roster."
Vacula was also named SCAC Women's Swimmer of the Week once last season. She also finished fourth in the 200 Yard Backstroke with a time of 2:12.17. She finished an impressive rookie season with seven individual wins and four runner-up finishes. In total, the Ladies and Gents combined for 48 individual wins this past season.
Following the season-opening meet on Saturday, Centenary returns to action two weeks later, again at home, as they welcome conference for McMurry to town for a pair of meets. The first will be on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. followed by a 10 a.m. meet on Saturday, Oct. 15.
Centenary hits the road for the first time to face Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. and will then be tested in its annual trip to Conway, Ark. for the Hendrix Invitational (Oct. 29 at 10 a.m.). The Ladies and Gents will host their annual Intrasquad/Alumni Meet on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. on the final day of the college's Homecoming celebration.
The Ladies and Gents will face Austin College for a pair of conference dual meets top open the second half of the season in 2023. The first will be the Austin College Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. in Sherman, Texas and then the 'Roos come to town on Saturday, Jan. 21 for Centenary's Senior Day meet at 1 p.m.
Centenary will then head to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships Feb. 8-11 in Garland, Texas.
See the complete Ladies and Gents' season schedules below:
https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mswim/2022-23/schedule
https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/wswim/2022-23/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests.
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