Independent South Championships | February 16-18 | Triangle Aquatic Center | Cary, N.C. | 10:30 a.m. / 6:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT (Salem vs. Pfeiffer / Guilford | February 4)
The Salem swim team wrapped up a dual with Pfeiffer and Guilford at the Salem Aquatic Center on Saturday, February 4th with five Top-5 finishes.
The Spirits suffered a pair of setbacks to both Pfeiffer (94-24) and Guilford (135-17) in the meet, with
Guilford claiming a 94-86 victory in the head-to-head meeting with the Falcons.
Senior Kylie Clark was responsible for three of Salem's Top-5 outings, claiming second in the 200 freestyle with a mark of 3:18.28 along with a third-place in the 50 freestyle, which came in a time of 36.97. Clark also tapped the wall fourth in the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:48.32.
With her two Top-3 outings, Clark inched closer to the program's career-mark of Top-3 performances. Clark broke a deadlock with Allison Wakefield, which was 13 total, and is now one behind Olivia Kleven's mark of 16 in her career.
Eleanore Regenthal also had a solid day for Salem with a fourth-place finish in the 100 freestyle, after touching the wall in 1:41.52. She also placed fifth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 46.53.
SPIRITS BEGIN THREE-DAY STRETCH IN RALEIGH
For the second time in as many seasons, the Spirits will appear in a postseason tournament. Last season, Salem headed to Fort Pierce, Fla., to take part in the Sun Coast Conference Championships. This year, the Spirits are set to take part in the Independent South Championships that are taking placing from February 16-18 at the Triangle Aquatic Center.
Salem will be joined at the event by Pfeiffer, Piedmont, Southern Virginia, Warren Wilson and William Peace.
PERSONAL BESTS ENTERING THE MEET
Salem's Eleanore Regenthal and Kylie Clark will be competing in six events over the course of the next three days.
Regenthal is slated to open the meet with an appearance in the 500 freestyle, which will be followed by Clark's appearance in the 50 freestyle. Regenthal returns to the pool to participate in the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke, while Clark is slated for both the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle events.
The following are their best times from the aforementioned races this season:
| ELEANORE REGENTHAL | |||||
| Place | Individual | Date | Event | Race | Time |
| 2. | Eleanore Regenthal | Jan. 21, 2023 | Warren Wilson / Columbia College | 200 backstroke | 3:52.22 |
| 1. | Eleanore Regenthal | Dec. 3, 2022 | Ferrum Dual | 200 freestyle | 3:37.18 |
| 5. | Eleanore Regenthal | Jan. 28, 2023 | Chowan / Greensboro / Piedmont | 500 freestyle | 9:52.62 |
| KYLIE CLARK | |||||
| Place | Individual | Date | Event | Race | Time |
| 38. | Kylie Clark | Nov. 18, 2022 | William Peace Invitational | 50 freestyle | 36.69 |
| 6. | Kylie Clark | Jan. 28, 2023 | Chowan / Greensboro / Piedmont | 100 backstroke | 1:41.01 |
| 6. | Kylie Clark | Jan. 28, 2023 | Chowan / Greensboro / Piedmont | 100 freestyle | 1:33.32 |
CLARK NEEDS ONE TOP-3 TO EQUAL KLEVEN
After posting a pair of Top-3 outings in the meet that featured both Pfeiffer and Guilford, Kylie Clark inched closer to the program's career-mark of Top-3 performances. Clark broke a deadlock with Allison Wakefield, which was 13 total, and is now one behind Olivia Kleven's mark of 16 in her career.