Trinity's Culberson Wins National Title in 100 Free; Day Four NCAA Recap

Trinity's Culberson Wins National Title in 100 Free; Day Four NCAA Recap

(Portions of this story courtesy of Trinity University)
(Photos by Russell Kramer, Cover Photo Art by James Hill)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.
-- Trinity University men's junior swimmer Stephen Culberson has joined the list of SCAC and Trinity national champions, taking top honors with his record time of 44.18 in the 100-yard freestyle event at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. Men's & Women's Combined Results | Championship Website | Men's Team Scores | Women's Team Scores

After breaking the SCAC open record with the best prelim time Saturday morning (44.29), Culberson bested that mark again as the junior captured the national title at the IUPUI Natatorium on Saturday afternoon. He beat out Austin Caldwell of Kenyon College (44.46).

With the win, Culberson became the first Trinity swimmer to achieve a national championship, and the sixth Tiger student-athlete to win an NCAA Division III individual national crown. He is the 33rd SCAC student-athlete to win an individual national title and the seventh in the sport of swimming and diving (see below).

In Wednesday's opening day of the championships, Culberson earned All-America honors for the first time in his career with a fifth-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle, clocking in at 20.37 seconds.

In other action on Saturday, sophomore women's diver Ashley Heline picked up Honorable Mention All-America recognition for the second time during the meet, finishing ninth on the 3-meter board with a score of 456.85. Heline placed 12th earlier in the week in 1-meter diving, scoring 389.70 points. She was an All-American in 2013 on the high board (eighth place), and Honorable Mention All-American on the low board (14th place).

The Trinity men's 400 free relay team finished one position outside of swimming in the consolation finals. The team of Jonathan Hoffman, Culberson, Adam Thomas and Isaac Johnson finished in a time of 3:03.90.

On the women's side, sophomore Kara Beauchamp of Trinity just missed earning a spot in the consolation final in her one Saturday morning prelim swim. Beauchamp finished 17th in the 200 breast (2:21.04).

Colorado College sophomore Olivia Dilorati placed 27th in the 200 back prelim with a finishing time of 2:05.18.

CAC NATIONAL CHAMPIONS - INDIVIDUAL (1962-1990)
1980 Chris Fugman, Centre, Men's Swimming & Diving / 400 IM
1984 Chris Trapp, Rose-Hulman, Men's Outdoor Track & Field / Javelin
1985 Chris Trapp, Rose-Hulman, Men's Outdoor Track & Field / Javelin
1986 Chris Trapp, Rose-Hulman, Men's Outdoor Track & Field / Javelin

SCAC NATIONAL CHAMPIONS - INDIVIDUAL (1991-2013)
1995 Nao Kinoshita, Rhodes, Women's Tennis / Singles
1997 Nao Kinoshita, Rhodes, Women's Tennis / Singles
1997 Taylor Tarver, Rhodes, Women's Tennis / Doubles
1997 Nao Kinoshita, Rhodes, Women's Tennis / Doubles
1998 Ryan Loftus, Rose-Hulman, Men's Indoor Track & Field / Pole Vault
2000 Heather Stone, Sewanee, Women's Indoor Track & Field / 1500 meters
2000 Heather Stone, Sewanee, Women's Outdoor Track & Field / 1500 meters
2003 Matt Smith, Rose-Hulman, Men's Swimming & Diving / 100 Yard Breaststroke
2004 Christyn Schumann, Trinity, Women's Outdoor Track & Field / High Jump
2005 Christyn Schumann, Trinity, Women's Indoor Track & Field / High Jump
2005 Christyn Schumann, Trinity, Women's Outdoor Track & Field / High Jump
2006 Christyn Schumann, Trinity, Women's Outdoor Track & Field / High Jump
2007 Liz Bondi, DePauw, Women's Tennis / Singles
2009 Todd Wildman, Trinity, Men's Indoor Track & Field / Pentathlon
2009 Olafur Loftsson, Oglethorpe, Men's Golf / Medalist
2009 Chrys Jones, Centre, Men's Outdoor Track & Field / Triple Jump
2010 Chrys Jones, Centre, Men's Indoor Track & Field / Triple Jump
2010 Todd Wildman, Trinity, Men's Indoor Track & Field / Pentathlon
2010 Lindsay Martin, Trinity, Women's Swimming & Diving / 1-meter board
2010 Hayley Emerick, Trinity, Women's Swimming & Diving / 3-meter board
2010 Chrys Jones, Centre, Men's Outdoor Track & Field / Triple Jump
2011 Chrys Jones, Centre, Men's Indoor Track & Field / Triple Jump
2011 Chris Morris, Centre, Men's Golf / Medalist
2012 Tiarra Goode, Birmingham, Women's Indoor Track & Field / 60 Meter Hurdles
2012 Jordan DeGayner, Colorado, Men's Swimming & Diving / 200 Yard Freestyle
2012 Ruth Hahn, Trinity, Women's Swimming & Diving / 3-meter board
2012 Anthony Maccaglia, Oglethorpe, Men's Golf / Medalist
2012 Tiarra Goode, Birmingham, Women's Outdoor Track & Field / 100 Meter Hurdles
2014 Stephen Culberson, Trinity, Men's Swimming & Diving / 100 Yard Freestyle

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