Liberty Swimming & Diving to Face Virginia Tech, Penn State in Christiansburg
9/30/2026 11:20:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty swimming & diving team will open the 2026-27 season by taking on Virginia Tech and Penn State, Friday and Saturday at Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
This weekend's meet will feature head-to-head dual meet scoring for each team against the others. The meet will be a two-day contest, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday. The teams will begin day two at 10 a.m., Saturday.
How to Follow the Lady Flames
Live results will be available through the MeetMobile App.
Program Records Held by Current Lady Flames
100 breaststroke – 59.17 – Aly Bozzuto
200 breaststroke – 2:09.47 – Aly Bozzuto
100 IM – 55.93 – Aly Bozzuto
Platform diving (5) – 261.00 – Shannon Icard
Team Notes
The Lady Flames will host both Rutgers and James Madison for a tri meet on Oct. 16-17 at Liberty Natatorium.
This weekend's meet will feature head-to-head dual meet scoring for each team against the others. The meet will be a two-day contest, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday. The teams will begin day two at 10 a.m., Saturday.
How to Follow the Lady Flames
Live results will be available through the MeetMobile App.
Program Records Held by Current Lady Flames
100 breaststroke – 59.17 – Aly Bozzuto
200 breaststroke – 2:09.47 – Aly Bozzuto
100 IM – 55.93 – Aly Bozzuto
Platform diving (5) – 261.00 – Shannon Icard
Team Notes
- Liberty begins its second season as an affiliate swimming & diving member of the American Conference, as the Lady Flames, James Madison and Marshall all joined as affiliate members beginning on July 1, 2025.
- In the 2026-27 American Conference Preseason Poll, two-time defending champion Rice was voted first, followed by Liberty in second.
- The Lady Flames won seven straight CCSA/Atlantic Sun Swimming & Diving Championships prior to joining The American last year.
- Liberty made an immediate statement, finishing second to Rice at the 2026 American Conference Swimming & Diving Championship. The Lady Flames recorded 14 podium finishes and eight event victories, while setting three program records.
- Aly Bozzuto was named Most Outstanding Swimmer of the American Conference Championship Meet, while Gwyneth Frick earned Most Outstanding Freshman of the American Conference Championship Meet.
- Shannon Icard made history, finishing fifth on platform at the NCAA Zone Championships to become the first Liberty diver to compete at NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships.
- Aly Bozzuto, Kamryn Cannings and Shannon Icard all represented the Lady Flames in the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championships.
- The Lady Flames were represented by Shannon Icard, Mercy Goodnight and Kayla Walsh at the 2026 NCAA Zone Championships, highlighted by Icard's fifth-place finish and national qualification on platform.
- 17th-year Head Coach Jake Shellenberger has led the Lady Flames from the program's inception. He has posted a 142-41 dual-meet record, being named CCSA/ASUN Women's Swimming Coach of the Year seven times (2012, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).
- A total of four Lady Flames received CSCAA Individual Scholar All-America honors last season, in first-team selections Kamryn Cannings and Shannon Icard and second-teamers Gwyneth Frick and Kayla Walsh.
- A total of five current Lady Flames have posted conference podium finishes in their career, led by six medals from Aly Bozzuto. Shannon Icard (3), Gwyneth Frick (2), Emily Harstad (1) and Riley Leach (1) have all podiumed as well.
- Liberty is 0-4 all-time in head-to-head dual meets against Penn State. The last time the Lady Flames and Nittany Lions met in the pool was Oct. 29-30, 2021, when Penn State downed Liberty in its first visit to Liberty Arena.
- Current Liberty head coach Jake Shellenberger was as assistant coach at Penn State for three years, while associate head coach Jessica Barnes swam for the Nittany Lions.
- The Lady Flames hold an 0-4 head-to-head record versus Virginia Tech. Liberty's last meeting against the Hokies came at the 2017 Virginia Tech Sprint Challenge, when the Hokies beat the Lady Flames, 182-80.
- Liberty has posted at least one head-to-head dual meet against each of the Power conferences. The Lady Flames' last win over an ACC opponent was Nov. 2, 2012 at Boston College, while Liberty's last victory over a Big Ten team was Oct. 25, 2013 at Michigan State.
- Virginia Tech finished ninth out of 15 teams at the 2026 ACC Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, scoring 409.5 points.
- Penn State placed 13th out of 14 teams at the 2026 Big Ten Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, with 216 points.
The Lady Flames will host both Rutgers and James Madison for a tri meet on Oct. 16-17 at Liberty Natatorium.
Players Mentioned
Sprint Free, Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
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