S&D - Oct. 10, 2026
Caleb Palmer

Men's Swimming and Diving

Swim and Dive Dominates Home Meet, Multiple Records Fall

LEXINGTON, Va. –The VMI men's and women's swimming and diving teams delivered a dominant showing Saturday afternoon at Goodall Pool, recording numerous event victories, personal bests and program records against Hampden-Sydney, Hollins and Sweet Briar.
 
The Keydets controlled the competition from the opening events, highlighted by record-breaking performances on the diving boards and impressive efforts from both veterans and newcomers.
 
"Total team effort today," said VMI head coach Adam Zaczkowski. "Both men and women dominated from the opening whistle. We had a tough week of practice, but the team shook off the soreness and fatigue and showed up in a big way."
 
Women's Highlights
The VMI women were paced by a strong junior class, with Isabelle Haer, Mackenzie Byrne and Emerson Cosner leading the charge.
 
Byrne claimed victories in the 50 freestyle (24.40) and 100 freestyle (54.09), while Cosner swept the butterfly events, winning the 100 fly in 59.80 and the 50 fly in 26.94.
 
Haer dominated the springboard diving events, taking first in both the 1-meter (243.52) and 3-meter (269.92) competitions.
 
Sophomore Lacy Delzell earned a victory in the 100 individual medley (1:01.98), while Valeria Paulson swept the backstroke events, winning the 50 back (27.82) and 100 back (59.73).
 
Freshman diver Aeryn Wickersheim delivered one of the afternoon's biggest highlights, setting school, Rat and pool records in platform diving with a score of 166.20.
 
The women's 200 medley relay team of Paulson, Maddie Wolfe, Cosner and Byrne also opened the meet with a first-place finish in 1:51.54.
 
Men's Highlights
On the men's side, junior Jack Mills highlighted the distance events with a lifetime-best performance of 4:42.29 to win the 500 freestyle. Freshman Elijah Tong impressed in the 400 individual medley, clocking a 4:03.53.
 
Freshman Carson King delivered a strong performance in the 100 butterfly, taking first in 51.89.
 
Billy Grau earned three individual victories, sweeping the 50 breaststroke (25.83), 100 freestyle (47.58) and 100 breaststroke (1:00.08).
 
Joshua Wolf added victories in the 200 freestyle (1:44.31) and 50 butterfly (23.31), while Sam Calder claimed the 50 freestyle in 21.24. Ian Lutz turned in a conference-leading 20.62 opening split in the 200 freestyle relay, providing another highlight for the Keydets.

The diving events also produced multiple milestones. Senior Ryder Creal established new school and pool records in platform diving with a score of 187.35, while freshman Carter Canastra set a Rat record in the 1-meter competition with a score of 270.30. Canastra also claimed the 3-meter title with a score of 270.25.
 
"Junior Jack Mills had a lifetime best in the 500, while freshman Elijah Tong was excellent in the 400 IM," Zaczkowski said. "I was pleasantly surprised by freshman Carson King in the 100 Fly. Ian Lutz had a conference-leading 50 Free opening split in the 200 Free Relay."
 
Up Next
The Keydets return to Goodall Pool on Friday, Oct. 16, to host Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent Mount St. Mary's at 3 p.m. in their final dual meet of the fall.
 
"We have a short week leading up to our last dual meet of the fall next Friday against Metro foe Mt. St. Mary's at Goodall Pool," Zaczkowski said.
 




 
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Players Mentioned

Sam Calder

Sam Calder

Free/Back
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Ryder Creal

Ryder Creal

Dive
5' 7"
Senior
Ian Lutz

Ian Lutz

Free
6' 5"
Sophomore
Jack Mills

Jack Mills

Free/Fly
6' 3"
Junior
Joshua Wolf

Joshua Wolf

Back/Fly
5' 11"
Junior
Mackenzie Byrne

Mackenzie Byrne

Free/Fly
5' 9"
Junior
Emerson Cosner

Emerson Cosner

Free/Fly
5' 6"
Junior
Lacy Delzell

Lacy Delzell

Back/Free
5' 5"
Sophomore
Isabelle Haer

Isabelle Haer

Dive
5' 5"
Junior
Valeria Paulson

Valeria Paulson

Free/Back
5' 8"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Sam Calder

Sam Calder

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Free/Back
Ryder Creal

Ryder Creal

5' 7"
Senior
Dive
Ian Lutz

Ian Lutz

6' 5"
Sophomore
Free
Jack Mills

Jack Mills

6' 3"
Junior
Free/Fly
Joshua Wolf

Joshua Wolf

5' 11"
Junior
Back/Fly
Mackenzie Byrne

Mackenzie Byrne

5' 9"
Junior
Free/Fly
Emerson Cosner

Emerson Cosner

5' 6"
Junior
Free/Fly
Lacy Delzell

Lacy Delzell

5' 5"
Sophomore
Back/Free
Isabelle Haer

Isabelle Haer

5' 5"
Junior
Dive
Valeria Paulson

Valeria Paulson

5' 8"
Sophomore
Free/Back