Columbia Swimming Season Preview: Sights Set on a Record-Breaking Season
Written by Avy Watts (Sports Information Student Assistant)
COLUMBIA, SC- The Columbia College swim team is heading to Atlanta, GA, to compete against Life University and UT Southern today, September 30.
This year, the Koala Swim team is led by Coach Kelly Giese in her second season. Last year, Giese led the women's team to third in the conference. Coach Giese was also essential to starting the men's program in the 2022-2023 season.
When asked about the upcoming season, Giese stated,
"We cannot wait to get this season started. We have a great group of dedicated athletes ready to race and represent Columbia College."
There are six returners for the 2023-24 season. These returners will "Make a big impact for the Koalas," said Giese.
On the women's side, our returners include Avy Watts (Grad Student), Kayla Harmon (Senior), and Giuliana Schiavon (Sophomore). Watts and Harmon will be the women's co-captains for the upcoming season.
Schiavon and Watts "Will lead us in the stroke and IM events."
Schiavon placed third in her 200 fly at the conference meet last year, and this year, she has plans to break the 100 IM school record.
Schiavon, on the season ahead, "When I first got to the Columbia College Swim Team, I told myself, 'You need to break a school record before you graduate.' For me, this is leaving a mark and making an impact. In my first year, I realized I was farther than I thought, and my goal was possible. This year, I'm trying to break the 100 IM school record. I will continue working hard to break the 200 and 400 IM records before graduating in 2026."
Watts has similar plans to break the 50-fly school record. When asked about her goal, Watts said, "I remember signing to Columbia College, seeing that record, and telling myself, 'This is your goal.' After a shoulder injury, I thought I would never compete butterfly again, but I am so glad that I could heal my shoulder, and I feel even more confident in my ability to break that record." Returner Harmon "Will head up our sprint events." Harmon specializes in sprint free and backstroke. Harmon has dropped a significant amount of time in her events but plans to continue pushing for more— Harmon intends to train hard and continue dropping time in her 50 and 100 free.
The newcomers will also be crucial to the 2023-24 season. Andrea Piedra comes to Columbia having already done two years at Barton Community College specializing in distance-free events. Piedra has depth within these events and is on track to do well at the conference meet. First-years Isabelle Jensen and Anabelle Lee will significantly impact the backstroke and sprint events.
The men's returners for the season are William Evans (Senior), Nicholas Topar (Senior), and Kell Evans (Senior); captain William Evans leads the men. Last year, Topar and Evans had an accumulated 6 NAIA National B cuts. Six national cuts is a great accomplishment, especially since it was the men's inaugural season.
Evans has plans to continue breaking his records, which are currently the school records.
Evans said, "It was exciting to improve so much last year, but I am even more excited to see what I can accomplish this year and watch those times continue to drop."
Topar has his sight set on the 200IM record currently being held by a different men's inaugural team member. Topar has always specialized in mid-distance butterfly and backstroke, but the individual medley will be a new challenge for him. It will be exciting to watch Topar continue to grow in a new event.
Newcomer Jamal Johnson and returner Kell Evans will also be critical on the men's team, specializing in sprint events.
The Koala Swimmers have their sights set high this year. Their first home meet will be on October 28. Follow along across social media and GoKoalas.com to see our Koalas make a splash in the AAC.