O’Halloran creates momentum for swim team
As the fall 2019 semester is coming to a close, Guilford’s swim team is completing its most successful semester in recent history. The team is 6-1, and in addition, it won its first invitational in program history.
“Overall, I believe that this has been one of the most successful seasons as a team and through personal successes,” senior Carolyn O’Halloran said. “I am excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for us.”
Guilford women’s swimming hosted the Guilford College Invitational at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. In their first meet of the year, the Quakers had a second-place team finish.
Senior Carolyn O’Halloran helped the Quakers to a second-place finish at the Guilford College Invitational. She competed in seven individual events and two relays, and accoun
ted for 99.5 of Guilford’s 266 points.
Individually, she finished third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 58.92 seconds, fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (27.01), fifth in both the 200-yard freestyle (2:20.31) and 100-yard butterfly (1:09.09), seventh in the 200-yard individual medley (2:41.76), and 10th in the 100-yard backstroke (1:14.61). She also added an 11th place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:27.44).
O’Halloran leads the team in the opener on the 2019 fall with 99.5 points. First-year Megan Cessna earned 58.5 points in the outing.
For her efforts at the invitational O’Halloran was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Women’s Swimmer of the Week. She was the first Quaker to earn that recognition in over five years.
“My mindset has changed a lot since the start of this season,” O’Halloran said. “I feel that I have exceeded my expectations and (am) motivated to accomplish more.”
Following Guilford’s invitational, the team competed in the ODAC relays before traveling to Ferrum for a quad meet. Guilford swept the meet, beating Ferrum, Greensboro College and Randolph College.
During the swim team’s invitational win Nov. 23-24, O’Halloran set three school records. O’Halloran set a new school record in the 500-yard freestyle, topped her own 200 freestyle record, and bested her own 2017 record in the 100 freestyle.
“My highlights so far have been me breaking three Guilford College swimming records,” remarked O’Halloran. Also, as a team winning our first invitational in school history!”
The most recent action the team competed in was a double-dual meet with Sweetbriar and Gallaudet. The Quakers split for wins, losing to Sweetbriar by only 5 points.
“I think the biggest thing we have to improve on is just being more focused as a group,” said junior Grace Moore.
When the team returns from the break they will be traveling to three straight away meets in January. Their season is set to finish in February at ODAC championships, hosted in Greensboro.
“Coach Brad (Herndon) has truly been a staple to our team’s success,” O’Halloran said. “He continues to motivate us to achieve our best results. Also, we have our Florida training trip this winter break which will truly help us grow as a team and improve on our weak points.”
“Our biggest challenge (going forward) would probably be keeping the momentum, especially with such a long break coming up,” Moore said.
