Liberty Flames swimming and diving team takes home back-to-back national titles

The Liberty Flames swimming and diving team set out to Tennessee aiming to become back-to-back conference champions and win its third title,

The Lady Flames competed at the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Championships Feb. 19-21, edging out Florida Gulf Coast University and Incarnate Word for first place. After scoring 1,556 points, Liberty captured its third
CCSA championship.

The Lady Flames broke several records in their outstanding performance at the meet. The team set a new record in podium finishes as well as event victories. The Lady Flames also reached a 29-finish milestone, never achieved before by the Flames. 

“Fantastic performance, I believe we had 29 podium finishes, so we set records in podium finishes and set records in event victories,” Head Coach Jake Shellenberger said. “We had our first ever first, second and third finish in the 200(-meter) freestyle.”

Setting personal-best times, scoring more points in meets and repeating a CCSA title win have been some of the goals the Lady Flames set prior to the 2020 season. As the season is ending, the Lady Flames reminisced on the beginning of the season and their goals for the year. 

“I knew going into the season I wanted to break my times. I haven’t swam my best times since sophomore year, and this being my senior year, this is my last shot,” senior swimmer Collen Donlin said. “As a team we came back wanting to defend our championship title, and I think that was our main drive for everyone.”

Donlin not only helped the team defend their championship title, however. She also met her personal goal for the season, recording her best times in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle.

For some of the Lady Flames swimmers, this championship is a milestone in their last season in the pool for Liberty. Alongside Donlin, redshirt junior diver Kendal Irwin will also graduate in May.

“I am really looking forward to (graduating),” Irwin said. “And getting to cheer the rest of the team on as they continue and watching them succeed.” 

For Shellenberger, there isn’t much of an offseason for him and his coaching staff. Shellenberger and his coaching staff will still have spring training as they continue to hunt for new recruits who fit the Liberty Flames program.

“The meets might end but recruiting is a 24/7 thing, and if anything, recruiting picks up once the season ends,” Shellenberger said. “And we’ll start back up with spring training after the NCAA Championships, so we’ll still train and have offseason practices.”

The Lady Flames had one last swim meet at the Liberty Last Chance meet, which gave several swimmers the chance to improve their times in hopes of a better seed in the NCAA championship. The NCAA championship selection will take place Wednesday, March 4.

Johnson-Olaotan is a sports reporter. Follow him on Twitter.