Five Gold Medals, Multiple Broken Records Lead Dukes to Day Two Lead

Thursday, February 20

Orlando, Fla

All Day

James Madison University

Day Two

Five Gold Medals, Multiple Broken Records Lead Dukes to Day Two Lead

2/20/2025 9:45:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

ORLANDO, Fla. – James Madison swim & dive won all five gold medals and broke multiple records to give itself a lead at the conclusion of day two on Thursday of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Swimming & Diving Championship at the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center.

After coming into the day tied with Marshall for the lead, the Dukes opened up an 89-point lead by finishing the second day with a total score of 388. Marshall is in second with 299 points and is followed by Georgia Southern (216.5) and Old Dominion (121.5).

Prelims

The Dukes placed six swimmers in the A finals of the 500 Free, led by the Angela Ritchie (4:56.84) and Abby Maguire (4:57.43) who had the top two prelim times. Also advancing to the championship heat were Madison Wimmer, Katelyn Fitzgerald, Riley Nugent and Maddy Coombs.
JMU once again had the top two prelim finishers in an event, as Jess Pryne (2:01.53) and Riley Bridgman (2:02.46) recorded the top prelim times in the 200 IM. Joining the duo in advancing to the A finals were Grace Bousum and Ann Chappell Ellington. Suzanne Earnshaw and Alli Straub also qualifying to swim in the evening portion, as they will compete in the B finals.
Jamie Cornwell (23.09) and Alex Volk (23.20) finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 50 Free prelims to qualify for the A finals.
Four divers qualified for the championship heat on the 3-meter board as Kate Vitolo, Natalie Jones, Alexa Holloway and Maddie O'Mera all recorded NCAA Zone qualifying scores to advance. Vitolo was the top prelim scorer, as her score of 318.80 was 9.85 points off from the Sun Belt Championship record.

Finals

JMU began the night by sweeping the 500 Free, as Angela Ritchie took the gold behind a time of 4:52.14. The time moved her into a tie for seventh in program history. She was followed by Katelyn Fitzgerald (4:53.35) and Madison Wimmer (4:54.58), respectively.
Jess Pryne repeated as the 200 IM champion, as she won the event this year with a time of 2:00.35. Climbing the podium with her was Riley Bridgman, finishing third behind a time of 2:00.95 to move into fifth place in program history after jumping up to eighth in the prelims.
In the 50 Free, Jamie Cornwell took the gold to repeat as champion in impressive fashion. Her time of 22.54 set a JMU record and a Sun Belt Championship record, in addition to being an NCAA "B" cut time.
On the diving board, Alexa Holloway won her second straight Sun Belt 3-meter gold medal with a score of 350.35. Her score shattered the old Sun Belt Championship record by nearly 22 points. Kate Vitolo also medaled on the board, earning her second bronze in as many years by recording a score of 321.20.
To end the night, the team of Alex Volk, Grace Bousum, Wimmer, and Cornwell combined to swim a time of 1:30.59 in the 200 Free Relay to claim the gold medal. The time set the JMU and Sun Belt Championship records that were set last season. Volk and Cornwell respectively led off and anchored that team last year that won gold as well.

Program Top 10 Placements

Angela Ritchie (tied for seventh in the 500 Free; 4:52.14)
Katelyn Fitzgerald (10^th in the 500 Free; 4:53.35)
Riley Bridgman (fifth in the 200 IM; 2:00.35)
Jamie Cornwell (first in the 50 Free; 22.54)
Alex Volk, Grace Bousum, Madison Wimmer and Jamie Cornwell (first in the 200 Free Relay; 1:30.59)

Up Next
Day three of the championship on Friday, Feb 21 will feature seven events in the 200 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 400 IM, 1-meter board and the 400 Medley Relay.