By: Evan Gates | Sports Reporter
Lynchburg competed at the 2025 Keydet Invitational in mid-November to conclude the first half of the 2025-2026 season. Photo by Jess Strickland.
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Ahead of a two-month training block, the University of Lynchburg men’s and women’s swim teams showcased their progression at the 2025 Keydet Invitational in Lexington, Va., to conclude the first half of the season, while the women secured first place in the ten-team field.
The midseason meet featured 39 lifetime-best performances, five program records, and two top-four team performances. Director of Men’s and Women’s Swimming Brad Dunn believes that the team’s stellar performances will incentivize the Hornets to maintain momentum throughout their 60-day hiatus.
“On the women’s side, we saw a lot of people who got in and scored more than they were expected to score,” Dunn said. “We were just really excited on the final day; it gave us an opportunity to reflect and really reinforce finishing strong and finishing the meet on a high note.”
Lynchburg relied on several contributions from the team’s veterans on the women’s side to earn the team victory, including first-place finishes in the 200-meter medley relay, 400-meter medley relay, and 400-meter freestyle relay. Throughout long weeks of training, Dunn understands the importance of leadership for the returners.
“The veterans have seen the big picture,” Dunn said. “[Swim] is not always the most fun, especially since most of what we do is training. If you want to be successful and thrive in that environment, you need to have a group of people around you that is going to support you.”
In recent seasons, junior Abigail Schneider has become an imperative piece to Lynchburg’s success in women’s relay events, capturing two first-place finishes at the midseason invite. While performances in the pool have trended positively, Schneider also highlighted a broader success: culture.
“The culture this year is at an all-time high,” Schneider said. “The women’s team has meet-day buddies, so we write notes to each other before the races. It’s the best atmosphere you could ask for.”
The Lynchburg women’s swim team cheers on fellow Hornets to round out the midseason invitational. Photo by Jess Strickland.
Entering a training block during which the team departs for winter break, discipline is key to staying fit ahead of the next competition.
“You hear ‘two months away’ and think that you can slack off a little bit, but there’s no time in this sport of swimming,” Schneider said. “If you don’t stay in it, you’re done for the year.”
While the midseason meet served as a measuring stick for the future, it also reflected the team’s fitness from the first half of the season. Following the women’s team’s victory and a fourth-place finish for the men’s team, Schneider feels motivated heading into the winter block.
“It shows that Brad’s work for the season and practice plan is really paying off,” Schneider said. “We were excited going into each race, just hoping to beat the girls next to us.”
Following winter break, the Hornets will travel to Cocoa Beach, Fla., to train before tapering for postseason competition. While the trip allows Lynchburg to train away from the cold weather, the time spent together also helps first-year athletes build stronger bonds with their teammates.
“They get to live together and spend time together for a full week,” Dunn said. There’s a lot of training, but it’s where newcomers can become really close friends with a lot of people.”
Lynchburg returns to competition on Saturday, Jan. 17, at noon against Mary Washington at the Liberty University Natatorium. The meet serves as Lynchburg’s Code Red event for the 2025-2026 season.
To view the meet schedule for the Lynchburg swim teams, click here.
