University of Tennessee Athletics
400 Medley Relay Places Fifth, Lady Vols Earn 10 All-America Honors on Night Two of NCAA Championships
March 18, 2021 | Swimming & Diving
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Night Two at the 2021 Women's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships saw the Lady Vols earn 10 All-America certificates Thursday at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
In the 400 medley relay, Olivia Harper, Mona McSharry, Trude Rothrock and Tjasa Pintar finished fifth overall and threw down the program's fifth-fastest time in 3:29.81.
Tennessee was led off on the relay by freshmen Harper and McSharry. Harper swam the backstroke leg in 53.70, while McSharry's breaststroke leg was 57.16.
"We're always looking to be the most competitive that we can be and we felt that Olivia was going to give us a really good leadoff and she did," associate head coach Ashley Jahn said. "Olivia is an All-American now as a freshman at Tennessee and that's huge. Mona is an All-American on this relay. She was great and it was a really phenomenal swim."
Rothrock dove into the water third to swim butterfly, splitting in 51.48, while Pintar swam the anchor leg in 47.47. Pintar's second 50 free split was the second-fastest in the field. With their top-eight finish, the quartet earn All-America accolades.
"Trude was solid for us tonight and Tjasa's second 50 was great." Jahn said. "She also had a great swim anchoring last night and that bodes well for the rest of the meet."
Kristen Stege led UT individually on the night, winning the 500 freestyle B-final in 4:39.89. The sophomore earned nine points for the Lady Vols and shaved 1.51 seconds off her time from the morning's prelims. Stege also picked up Honorable Mention All-America honors for her performance.
"She did great," Jahn said. "She was aggressive and I am really proud of her. It is a big deal to score individually at NCAAs and she did really well preparing between the two sessions. She came out here tonight and was ready to compete."
Senior Alexis Yager took her turn in the competition pool in the 200 IM. The Batavia, Illinois, native touched in 1:57.65, finishing 15th overall. Yager earned Honorable Mention All-America honors with her swim and it is the fifth All-America certificate of her career.
"It was a really professional swim and she made some good changes in the swim tonight," Jahn said. "I am proud of her. She was very composed and she raced really well. Again, it is a big deal to score individually. It isn't easy at this meet. She has had a wonderful career here at Tennessee and she continues to take new strides."
The night began for UT with the 200 freestyle relay quartet of McSharry, Natalie Ungaretti, Megan Sichterman and Bailey Grinter placing 12th in 1:28.70. The foursome picked up 10 points for the Big Orange and all four swimmers earned Honorable Mention All-America status.
ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Bailey Grinter – 200 Free Relay (HM)
Olivia Harper – 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Mona McSharry – 200 Free Rely (HM), 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Claire Nguyen – 800 Free Relay (HM)
Tjasa Pintar – 800 Free Relay (HM), 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Trude Rothrock – 800 Free Relay (HM), 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Megan Sichterman – 200 Free Relay (HM)
Kristen Stege – 500 Free (HM)
Natalie Ungaretti – 200 Free Relay (HM)
Alexis Yager – 800 Free Relay (HM), 200 IM (HM)
UP NEXT
Day Three begins at 10 a.m. ET with prelims for the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast and 100 back. The finals of those events and the 200 medley relay are set to begin at 6 p.m.
In the 400 medley relay, Olivia Harper, Mona McSharry, Trude Rothrock and Tjasa Pintar finished fifth overall and threw down the program's fifth-fastest time in 3:29.81.
Tennessee was led off on the relay by freshmen Harper and McSharry. Harper swam the backstroke leg in 53.70, while McSharry's breaststroke leg was 57.16.
"We're always looking to be the most competitive that we can be and we felt that Olivia was going to give us a really good leadoff and she did," associate head coach Ashley Jahn said. "Olivia is an All-American now as a freshman at Tennessee and that's huge. Mona is an All-American on this relay. She was great and it was a really phenomenal swim."
Rothrock dove into the water third to swim butterfly, splitting in 51.48, while Pintar swam the anchor leg in 47.47. Pintar's second 50 free split was the second-fastest in the field. With their top-eight finish, the quartet earn All-America accolades.
"Trude was solid for us tonight and Tjasa's second 50 was great." Jahn said. "She also had a great swim anchoring last night and that bodes well for the rest of the meet."
Kristen Stege led UT individually on the night, winning the 500 freestyle B-final in 4:39.89. The sophomore earned nine points for the Lady Vols and shaved 1.51 seconds off her time from the morning's prelims. Stege also picked up Honorable Mention All-America honors for her performance.
"She did great," Jahn said. "She was aggressive and I am really proud of her. It is a big deal to score individually at NCAAs and she did really well preparing between the two sessions. She came out here tonight and was ready to compete."
Senior Alexis Yager took her turn in the competition pool in the 200 IM. The Batavia, Illinois, native touched in 1:57.65, finishing 15th overall. Yager earned Honorable Mention All-America honors with her swim and it is the fifth All-America certificate of her career.
"It was a really professional swim and she made some good changes in the swim tonight," Jahn said. "I am proud of her. She was very composed and she raced really well. Again, it is a big deal to score individually. It isn't easy at this meet. She has had a wonderful career here at Tennessee and she continues to take new strides."
The night began for UT with the 200 freestyle relay quartet of McSharry, Natalie Ungaretti, Megan Sichterman and Bailey Grinter placing 12th in 1:28.70. The foursome picked up 10 points for the Big Orange and all four swimmers earned Honorable Mention All-America status.
ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Bailey Grinter – 200 Free Relay (HM)
Olivia Harper – 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Mona McSharry – 200 Free Rely (HM), 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Claire Nguyen – 800 Free Relay (HM)
Tjasa Pintar – 800 Free Relay (HM), 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Trude Rothrock – 800 Free Relay (HM), 400 Medley Relay (AA)
Megan Sichterman – 200 Free Relay (HM)
Kristen Stege – 500 Free (HM)
Natalie Ungaretti – 200 Free Relay (HM)
Alexis Yager – 800 Free Relay (HM), 200 IM (HM)
UP NEXT
Day Three begins at 10 a.m. ET with prelims for the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast and 100 back. The finals of those events and the 200 medley relay are set to begin at 6 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Free/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Breast
/ Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Fly/IM/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Swimming & Diving
Free/IM
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IM/Breast
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