Story by Mark Musgrave III, Editor-In-Chief
Aquinas College Swim and Dive has their first National Champion in program history. Freshman Ashley McNamara of Strongsville, Ohio took the 1M Board title. This is the first National title between the Men’s and Women’s Swim Program, and the first Aquinas National Champion since Maggie Whitney took the National Title in the Women’s 800m Indoor Track Event.
The 2024 NAIA Swim and Dive Nationals took place in Columbus, Georgia. McNamara scored a Gold Medal placement of 212.65, breaking her personal and school record score of 199.65.
This is not her first Championship as an Aquinas Saint however, she also took first place in the 1M Dive vs Alma College in a home matchup with a score of 199.65.
McNamara placed second at the KCAC Conference Championships. Many attest that she had a chip on her shoulder following that weekend in Elkhart, Indiana. All-American and National Champion certainly sounds better than Conference Champion. It will be fun to watch and see how she progresses in the coming years as her greatness continues to flourish on stat sheets far and wide. Next season, her teammates will be eager to see if she can accomplish all three feats.
In Prelims, McNamara placed third, with a score of 204.45. A prime example of perseverance was shown here, as she displayed pure raw grit to feast on her gold medal when it mattered.
In a brief statement, Head Coach Kristy Hepp had to say about her season as a whole:
“When I first met Ashley, I knew she had the “it” factor to be successful. Her technique is uncommonly good, and she’s a hard worker. But what really sets Ashley apart is that she lights up when the pressure is on when most people would cave in to self doubt. Ashley has faced a lot of challenges this season with a chronic injury, yet she stuck to her plan and executed it perfectly at the national meet. I’m really proud of her!”
McNamara has set a standard for this Swim and Dive team, and with the recent surge in national appearances by her peers, she is bound to be a leader for this team moving forward. In just three years as a program, Aquinas College Swim and Dive has a national name to itself, which will continue to be for years to come.
The Saint 