Women's Swimming and Diving Posts Strong Start to ASUN Championships on Wednesday

PRELIMS RESULTS (PDF)

FINALS RESULTS (PDF)

ORLANDO, Fla. - UNC Asheville Women's Swimming and Diving posted a strong start to the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Championships on Wednesday (Feb. 18). The Bulldogs sit in fifth place by a narrow margin, just 14 points behind fourth place Georgia Southern.

Leigha Travis (213.90) and Eleanor Pichetto (210.20) finished fifth and sixth respectively in the B final of the 3M event, for 13^th and 14^th place overall. Haley Fein (163.85) also finished 18^th in the event. The 200 medley relay quartet of Andie Quisumbing, Gracelyn Cox, Taylor Smith and Gracie Hunt took seventh in a time of 1:43.65, with Quisumbing swimming a season-best 26.56 split. Anna Kate Halligan finished seventh in the 500 free in a lifetime-best 4:59.40, while Roberta Marchesi shaved time off of her morning prelim mark to finish 20^th in a lifetime-best 5:05.80. Beatrice Cocconcelli finished sixth in the 200 IM in a lifetime-best 2:03.30, while Alessia Cunegatti finished 10^th in a lifetime-best 2:03.81. Cox also finished 23^rd in 2:09.98. Anna Marcotti finished 10^th in the 50 free in a season-best 23.52,while Hunt finished 16^th in the event in 24.02. In total in the finals, the Bulldogs logged four lifetime-best times and two season-best times.

The Bulldogs registered nine season-best times on the day to go along with four lifetime-bests through the prelims of day one. Halligan punched her ticket of the 500 free with a season-best time of 5:00.30 to finish eighth, while Marchesi finished 22^nd in a lifetime-best 5:08.64 to qualify for the C final. Celine Petruschke (5:12.73) and Kathryn Walters (5:15.65) each logged a season-best time in the event. Cocconcelli qualified for the A final of the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.16 to finish eighth, while Cunegatti posted a time of 2:05.81 to qualify for the B final with a 10^th-place finish. Cox swam the event in a lifetime-best 2:06.76 to take 17^th and qualify for the C final, while Tess Peny also swam the event in a season-best 2:10.81. Hunt swam the 50 free in a season-best 23.76 to finish 14^th qualifying for the B final, while Marcotti swam the event originally in a season-best time of 23.80 before winning her swim-off for the last spot in the B final with a season-best time of 23.56. Madden Weir also swam the event in a season-best 25.58, along with a lifetime-best 24.17 for Gianna Riffel and a season-best 24.40 for Taylor Smith. Rose Sciaudone swam the 100 free time trial in a lifetime best 53.46, while Savanna Bush swam the 100 back time trial in a season-best 59.08. On the diving boards, Pichetto (215.15) and Travis (202.50) each qualified for the B final finishing 11^th and 12^th respectively while Fein (163.85) qualified for the C final in the event.

"I'm really proud of the fight in this team," said head coach Elizabeth Lykins. "We had a strong day in the pool and on the boards as we fight for every point. We'll get rest tonight and be ready to get after it again tomorrow!"

The Bulldogs return to the water tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 19) for the second day of competition. Prelims begin at 10:00 a.m. with video, live results and tickets available at www.uncabulldogs.com.

About Women's Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank

First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Women's Swimming and Diving Posts Strong Start to ASUN Championships on Wednesday

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Players Mentioned

Savanna Bush

Beatrice Cocconcelli

Gracelyn Cox

Alessia Cunegatti

Haley Fein

Anna Kate Halligan

Gracie Hunt

Roberta Marchesi

Anna Marcotti

Tess Peny

Celine Petruschke

Eleanor Pichetto

Andie Quisumbing

Gianna Riffel

Rose Sciaudone

Taylor Smith

Leigha Travis

Kathryn Walters

Madden Weir