COLLEGE SWIMMING: HORSEHEADS GRAD VERKLEEREN NAMED NESCAC SWIMMER OF THE MEET (2023-03-10)

Southern Tier Sports Report
Horseheads graduate Sophia Verkleeren '24 was nominated as the 2023 NESCAC Swimmer of the Meet following her performances at the NESCAC Championships last weekend at Bowdoin College. Verkleeren is the 14th Eph to be named Swimmer of the Meet and the 6th Eph in a row to receive this honor. Last year, Verkleeren's teammate Amanda Wager '23.5 kept the Williams streak alive for her incredible performances in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke.

Verkleeren won all three of her individual events: the 200 IM in a NESCAC meet record time of 2:00.56, the 400 IM in a time of 4:17.24, and the 200 backstroke in a time of 1:57.99. Verkleeren's 26.13 backstroke leg helped the Ephwomen take the top spot in the 200 medley relay, and her 54.61 backstroke leg boosted the Ephs to a win and new NESCAC meet record in the 400 medley relay. She also split 1:50.57 on the Eph's second place 800 free relay and led off the Eph's third place 400 free relay in 52.17.

Verkleeren enters the 2023 NCAA Division III Swim & Dive Championships on March 15-18 with the top times in the country thus far this season in the 200 IM and 400 IM, and she sits third in the 200 backstroke.