Swim and Dive Celebrates Senior Day With a Win

Springfield, OH - The Wittenberg men's and women's swimming and diving teams hosted Hanover and celebrated Senior Recognition Day on Friday, Jan. 16, in the Wittenberg Natatorium. Three Tiger seniors were celebrated in a special ceremony prior to the meet: Mason Steen (Leroy, OH / Riverside), McKenna Clark (Waynesville, OH / Carroll) and Shania Stone (Cincinnati, OH / Princeton), and the Tigers sent them out in style as the men's team acheived its first win of the season by a score of 127-44, while the women won 143-66.

The Tiger teams combined to win 22 of the 26 total events as the women took first in 12 of 13 events and the men grabbed first place 10 times in 13 races. For the men, Andrew Tackett (Cuyahoga Falls, OH / St. Vincent-St. Mary) and Nathan Rabun (Marion, OH / Wynford) each won two individual events to lead the way. Teagan O'Connor (Fort Wayne, IN / Carroll) and Lilly Cook (Rensselaer, IN / Rensselaer Central) won two individual events each on the day as well to pace the women's team.

Tackett had his best marks in the 1000-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle, while Rabun took the crown in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke. O'Connor earned her top finishes in the 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard butterfly as Cook matched her two wins with her own in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley.

Of the seniors, Wittenberg Head Coach Gabe Rastatter said, "These seniors have made my first year coaching unforgettable. They are natural leaders and have unwavering character. I have no doubt that they will find success in everything they do. Wittenberg Swimming and Diving is proud to call them ours."

Both teams will take to the pool again when they head to Heidelberg on Saturday, January 24 to take on the Student Princes in the second-to-last dual meet of the 2025-26 season.

Written by: Grant Martin