July 22, 2013
In the nine weeks leading up to the kickoff of the 2013-14 WKU Athletics calendar, WKUSports.com will highlight some of the most memorable WKU moments from the 2012-13 academic year that saw the program ring in five conference championships, advance eight teams to the NCAA postseason and produce 10 All-Americans. "A Year To Remember" will recapture WKU's 2012-13 success in chronological order and will be released every Monday afternoon between June 24 and Aug. 19.
The WKU women's swimming and diving team was responsible for capturing the third conference championship for the WKU athletic program in the 2012-13 academic year, rallying from behind to secure their fourth league crown since 2008.
Trailing by 14 points after three days of competition, WKU strung together nine top-five finishes to end the meet atop the standing with 853 points. Head coach Bruce Marchionda, who was named the Sun Belt Conference Co-Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the championships, was proud of the Lady Toppers for capitalizing on the final day.
"We were 14 points down heading into the last day, and we talked about setting up for the opportunity to win the Sun Belt during the morning prelims," said Marchionda. "The girls just did a phenomenal job of going out and getting things done. To regroup and do that is not easy. We talked about how great moments come from great opportunities, and we had a great opportunity to win. I am just so proud of how the girls pulled together to win and bring the title back to Bowling Green."
Claire Conlon and Laurel Chaney spearheaded the WKU rally with a pair of school-record performances, as Conlon posted a 2:13.34 in the 200 breaststroke while Chaney tallied a 16:41.29 in the 1,650 freestyle. In all, seven school records were set at the Sun Belt Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, headlined by Amy Halligan (100 breaststroke), Hannah Runyon-Hass (400 IM) and Caitlin Dean (3-meter dive) who nabbed runner-up honors with their record performances.
Relays score the most points and that's where the Lady Toppers experienced the most success, winning the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays. Paige Drazga, Aiste Dobrovolskaite, Hilary Mishler and Michelle Craddock led WKU to the top 200 medley relay time while Allie Duff and>Claire Conlon teamed with Dobrovolskaite and Drazga to win the 200 freestyle relay.
WKU placed 10 swimmers and divers on the All-Sun Belt Conference team, including six first-team selections. Conlon, Craddock, Dobrovolskaite, Drazga, Duff and Mishler all earned first-team honors while Dean, Halligan and Runyon-Hass secured second-team accolades. Susan Marquess was tabbed a third-team selection.
WKU's victory marked championship No. 9 for the women's swimming and diving program and its fourth since 2008. Since the 2008 season, Marchionda has led WKU to four titles and a pair of runner-up finishes.
