LEXINGTON, Va. March 4, 2025 — VMI men’s and women’s swimming and diving closed out their season at home in February during the America East Championships at Goodall Pool Feb. 22. 

The team smashed 28 team records, which beats the 26 broken records the year before. 

A total of eight teams participated in the championship at the VMI Aquatic Center, which was completed in 2023 as part of the Corps Physical Training Facility Phase III. 

“I am beyond proud of the commitment and dedication of our swim and dive cadet- athletes. Because of their hard work, belief in each other, and love for VMI, our team is on an aggressive climb in performance and result,” coach Scott Thacker said. 

Championship highlights 

Team Record Breakers  

• Mackenzie Byrne ’28 —  100 FR rat and team 

• Ava Phillips ’28, Parker Fogle ’28, Emerson Cosner ’28, Byrne — 200 Medley relay rat 

• Noelle Tong ’26, Phillips, Walden Wilder ’27, Byrne — 400 FR relay team 

• Tong, Wilder, Byrne, Cosner — 200 Medley relay team  

• Tong, Wilder, Byrne, Phillips — 400 Medley relay team  

• Jack Mills ’28 —  50 FR rat and team 

• Mills — 100 FR rat 

• Matt Picard ’27 —  team 100 FR 

• Mills —  200 FR rat and team 

• Stephen Russell ’28 —  500 FR rat and team 

• Russell — 1000 FR rat and team 

• Russell — 1650 FR rat and team 

• Sam Castle ’27 — 100 BK team 

• Castle —  200 BK team 

• Mills — 200 FL rat and team 

• Mills — 200 IM rat 

• Mills, Sam Calder ’28, Josh Wolf ’28, Max Brunner ’27 — 200 FR Relay team 

• Mills, Calder, Castle, Picard — 400 FR relay team 

• Mills, Picard, Castle, Russell — 800 FR relay team  

• Castle, Layne Tucker ’27, Brunner, Picard — 200 Medley relay team  

• Castle, Tucker, Brunner, Picard — 400 medley relay team 

VMI men finished the championships in fifth with a team score of 378 while the women closed out at seventh with 112 points.  

More here.

The Aquatic Center wasn’t the only VMI facility seeing some winning action. The 2025 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships were hosted by VMI at the Corps Physical Training Facility Feb. 28 and March 1. 

The men’s team placed fourth overall and the women’s team placed seventh, according to VMI Athletics.  

"We fought hard and competed,” said VMI Director of Track and Field Zack Scott, according to VMI Athletics. “Huge thanks to our alumni, parents, and the Corps for their incredible support in helping to produce PRs [personal records] and rewrite the team indoor record boards. We brought home some well-earned medals from freshmen to seniors on both the men and women's teams. Now we take a well-earned break and reload for the outdoor season." 

Championship highlights 

• VMI won 16 points in the men's 400 race, with Nick Brown ’25 placing first and Anthony Wilkerson ’28 placing third as both earned All-SoCon honors for the event. Brown won the gold in 47.66 seconds and Wilkerson earned a PR in 49.02 seconds. 

• The 4x400 relay team of Wilkerson, Ben Hagerich ’26, Xander Topos ’25, and Rye Jackson ’28 earned All-SoCon honors by placing third in 3:19.93. 

• Shea Hart ’26 earned All-SoCon honors in the pentathlon by placing second through the five events with 3,429 points.  

• Morgan Fraser ’27 achieved All-SoCon honors in the high jump by tying for second place with Wofford's Sherika Christie at a height of 1.65 meters. 

More here.

Visit vmikeydets.com and follow VMI Athletics and individual teams on social media for more news and stories as they Compete to Win. 

- VMI -