Cheatwood Finishes in First, Mountaineers Conclude CSCAAs

Thursday, March 9

Elkhart, In

All Day

West Virginia University

CSCAA National Invitational

Cheatwood Finishes in First, Mountaineers Conclude CSCAAs

March 11, 2023 10:48 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Fallyn Swiger

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men's and women's swimming teams wrapped up competition at the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championships, at the Beacon Health Aquatic Center, in Elkhart, Indiana on Saturday.

The Mountaineers had six top-ten finishes over the weekend, including two on the final day of competition. Junior Justin Heimes led the way for the men's squad, having three top top-five finishes at the national meet, including the 50 back (3rd – 22.18), 100 back (3rd – 46.85) and 200 back (5th – 1:44.50). For the women, freshman Mia Cheatwood added a first-place finish on day three, as well as a second-place finish on day two, in the 200 breaststroke and 100 back, respectively.

The CSCAA had a total of 57 women's programs and 41 men's teams competing. The Mountaineer men finished 12th overall, tallying a score of 241, while the women's squad took 17th with a score of 177.5.

Saturday evening's finals were highlighted by Cheatwood's first-place finish in the 200 breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:12.27.

The finals opened with the 1650 freestyle. Sophomore Miranda Kirtley finished in 11th (16:48.40), while freshman Olivia Busch finished in 35th (17:16.16) for the women.

Next up, sophomore Jake Young was the lone Mountaineer to compete in the 100 IM, finishing 19th overall (50.71).

Heimes added his third top-five finish of the weekend on the final night of competition in the men's 200 back, finishing in fifth place with a time of 1:44.50.

Sophomore Conner McBeth and junior Roanoke Shirk represented the Mountaineers in the 100 free finals, finishing in seventh (44.21) and 19th (44.96), respectively.

Freshman Adam McDonald represented the men's team in the 200 breatstroke for the men, finishing in 15th, with a time of 1:58.86.

During the 200 fly finals, sophomore Mia Walters finished with a time of 2:01.52, good enough to place 14th.

Competition in Indiana wrapped up with the 400 free relay, the men's team of McBeth, Shirk, freshman Jamin Harlan and junior Logan McFadden finished in 13th, with a time of 2:58.59. The women's team of freshman Ada Szwabinska, sophomores Morgan Burton and Kirtley and Cheatwood finished with a time of 3:26.47, taking 28th overall.

A full list of results from the CSCAA National Invitational Championships can be found here.

West Virginia now looks ahead to the 2023 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships on March 22-25. Junior Danny Berlitz will represent the Mountaineers at the championships. Minnesota will host NCAAs, competition will take place at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.