For the second time in three years, the University of Tennessee women’s swimming and diving team has won the Southeastern Conference championship.
The third-ranked Lady Vols won 17 medals, including seven gold, six silver and four bronze.
Tennessee had 53 swimmers and divers qualify for the finals in their respective events.
UT freshman Ellen Walshe won seven medals at the championships, including four golds. She was named the SEC Swimmer of the Meet and received the Commissioner’s Trophy, which is awarded to the meet’s top scorer.
Walshe won the 400-yard individual medley by setting a school record in the event with a time of 4:01.53. She also won the 100 fly (50.34 seconds), the 200 IM (1:52.97), the second fastest time in the event in school history.
Walshe is the first swimmer in conference history to win the 200 IM, 400 IM and 100 fly in the same meet.
She is one of three Lady Vols to win three individual events at a single conference championship meet and the first freshman in school history to achieve the feat.
Walshe’s time in the 400 IM is the fastest in the SEC by a freshman and ranks seventh among rookies in the NCAA.
She won a gold medal and four silvers as a member of UT’s relay teams.