Bosler, D. Lewis repeat NAIA Provisional Cut feats in 50 free on Day 1 of MSC Championships; McCafferty sets national cut in 100 back as part of relay group
DANVILLE, Ky. -- Shawnee State juniors Abigail Bosler and De-Nicha Lewis are a dynamic freestyle duo.
Look no further than Thursday evening's Mid-South Conference Championship Meet -- where the standout women's swimmers, on Day 1 of the three-day MSC Championship Meet, stood tall against some of the best competition one could hope to find in America as the pair each set their second NAIA Provisional cut in the 50 yard freestyle during the 2024-25 season, with Bosler's 24.70 in the finals and Lewis' 24.88 in the prelims of the 50 free leading the Shawnee State women's swimming efforts following the first day of the star-studded meet, which was held at the Boles Natatorium in Danville Thursday morning and Thursday evening.
Bosler, who has swam as fast as a 24.44 in the 50 free, was again stout against the best of the best and backed up her reputation as one of the best swimmers in the country -- placing fifth in the 50 free in a strong freestyle field where each of the eight finalists all swam under 25 seconds in the event.
Lewis, who swam a 25.12 in the same event that Bosler set her 24.44 in at the Union Commonwealth (Ky.) Bulldog Invite, improved her time by over two-tenths of a second en route to bettering her season best in prelim action, showcasing fantastic form in doing so.
Lewis then swam a 24.92 in the finals, capping off a strong event of representation for Shawnee State in an event where the Bears matched national powerhouse programs Cumberlands (Ky.), Indiana Wesleyan and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) with two swimmers each in the top-eight overall. The duo were among 15 individuals in the event, conference-wide, to set a NAIA Provisional time -- with Bosler beating 10 individuals and Lewis six swimmers who also set a NAIA Provisional Cut time.
In relay events, Shawnee State got 58 points -- with Bosler and Lewis chipping in to aid Shawnee State in those totals as well. The duo teamed with Mercedes Mwebeiha and Katie McCafferty to place fourth in the 400 yard medley relay, then joined forces with Mwebeiha and Reagan Lewis to claim fifth in the 200 yard freestyle relay.
McCafferty's performance in the 400 yard medley relay was especially big -- as the sophomore posted a national cut in the 100 yard backstroke as part of that relay to set a national cut time, as well.
Additional performances are as follows:
- Emilie Wasnich, Emily Boggs, Emma Conley, 14th, 17th, 18th, respectively, in 500 yard freestyle
- Reagan Lewis, Jordan Patterson, Julia Luallen, 23rd, 25th, 27th, respectively in 50 yard freestyle
- Mercedes Mwebeiha, 17th, 200 yard individual medley
Additional
Action continues Friday and Saturday at Boles Natatorium in Danville.
For more information, check out www.ssubears.com and follow the meet at https://team1sports.com/midsouth/.
