Buena Vista, VA - With a new look group, missing several faces from previous championship teams, but welcoming an influx of talented newcomers, the Southern Virginia University swim teams continued their winning ways in the Independent South Conference. After a grueling regular season, the Knights produced another strong postseason, highlighted by numerous individual accolades and a women's team title.

When asked about her team's sustained success over the years, Head Coach Jennifer Jensen stated, "We have strong, dedicated, and committed athletes who are willing to work hard in and out of the pool for this team. They love swimming like I do, and they love supporting each other in reaching their goals."

Between the men's and women's teams, the Knights have combined for four conference titles in just four seasons, not to mention the many individual accolades. Most notably, the women capped off another successful season as Independent South Champions, while the men finished a close third. Jamie Horne was named Women's Swimmer of the Year and Jennifer Jensen was named Women's Coach of the Year.

Men's Team

After winning the Independent South in two of the last three seasons, the men's team faced the greater number of roster changes between the two teams. While they didn't boast the same depth as in years past, several swimmers stood out individually and contributed significant points throughout the season. Roman Nowell emerged as their top point getter, leading the team through the regular season and being perhaps the most effective swimmer during the conference championship meet, winning two of his three events.

Collectively, the team struggled to pick up wins during the regular season. They did, however, dominate Greensboro College by a score of 109-17 to record their first win. Ultimately, the team saved their best for the final weekend of competition at the Independent South Championships. During the three day meet, they battled hard with William Peace for second place, eventually falling short by just four points.

In addition to Nowell's contributions, McCormick Johnson and Grayson Garcia became important figures on the men's squad. After competing in just two regular season meets, Johnson decimated personal bests in each event he contested. In the 100y free, his best time of 50.17 was nearly four seconds quicker than just three weeks prior. For Garcia, the freshman from Lexington, Virginia put together a memorable conference meet for himself. He gathered top five finishes in the 100y free and 100y fly, swimming personal bests in each event.

Women's Team

The women's team quickly realized they were in the hunt for their first conference title since 2022. Their rival, Piedmont, had won the last two titles and looked to make it a three-peat. The Knights, however, had different plans and boasted a strong mix of returners and newcomers.

The team won three of their first six meets, including a signature victory over Piedmont, defeating their rivals by six points in a thrilling regular season dual. Two freshmen, Jesi and Mia Fuhriman, made an immediate impact in the pool. Jesi Fuhriman never finished an event worse than third all season, and Mia Fuhriman showed steady progress from beginning to end. Coach Jensen went on to highlight their contributions to the team.

"The twins have been very influential in the team's success this season, especially their performances in relays. Their work ethic and willingness to be leaders in the classroom and in the pool have been a great asset." 

Amelia Beckstead and Rylee Nugent also emerged as other key contributors, and both won two of their respective individual events at the conference championships. Their points were significant in what quickly became a two-horse race between Southern Virginia and Piedmont. The Knights held a slim margin through the first two days of the meet, but pulled away on the final day to take a commanding win of over 80 points.

The women's team has become perennial contenders in the Independent South, and continue to show significant improvement despite the tremendous success they've already experienced over the last few seasons. One of the biggest winners during the season was Jamie Horne, who was named Women's Swimmer of the Year. "Jamie is a team leader in attitude and work ethic. She supports all of her teammates' progress and wants to see everyone improve," stated Coach Jensen.

Horne led all Southern Virginia swimmers in points during the season, and was a part of four event victories at the championships. She swam lifetime bests in the 100y free, 100y fly, and 50y fly to put an exclamation point on an extraordinary career. Fortunately for the Knights, their roster is relatively young and has a bright future. They'll lose a couple of seniors and others who plan to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but they'll look to compete for more team championships in the coming seasons.

For the most up-to-date information and details on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_swimming on Instagram.