BLOG: Spring Grove's Hali Flickinger a national champ
Spring Grove High School graduate Hali Flickinger is a national champion.
The senior played an integral role in helping the University of Georgia women's swimming team capture a seventh NCAA Division I crown over the weekend in Atlanta.
The Lady Bulldogs finished with 414 points to fight off Stanford (395). Georgia's most recent crowns came in 2014 and 2013. Georgia won the national title after finishing third at the Southeastern Conference Championships earlier this season.
Georgia's Jack Bauerle was chosen as the National Women's Coach of the Year for the seventh time.
On Saturday night, when Georgia clinched the crown, Flickinger finished fourth in the 200 butterfly in 1 minute, 53.32 seconds.
Needing a top-six effort to take the team crown, the Lady Bulldogs capped the night with a second-place finish by the 400 freestyle relay. Flickinger was also a member of that team.
Friday, Flickinger finished fourth in the 200 freestyle in 1:43.32.
Thursday, Flickinger finished third in the 500 freestyle in 4:33.35. That same night, Flickinger was part of the 400 medley relay team that finished fourth in 3:29.54.
Lady Bulldogs Win NCAA Title In 800 Free Relay
On the first night of the event on Wednesday, Flickinger was part of the 800 freestyle relay that finished first in 6:51.80. That broke the school record and the pool record. Flickinger led off in 1:42.80, the fifth-fastest 200 freestyle time in school history.
Overall, Flickinger had six top-four finishes in the event — three individually and three in relays.