High five as Mona McSharry stars at SEC Swimming Championships

Mona McSharry has started 2022 where she left off in 2021.

McSharry left the 2022 SEC Swimming Championships in Tennessee this week with five medals, including gold in the 100m breaststroke.

After reaching for the stars in 2021, when winning a 100m breaststroke bronze at the World Short Course Championships and also reaching the 100m breaststroke final at the Olympic Games, McSharry starred again at the Jones Aquatics Center.

McSharry, competing for University of Tennessee, won gold in the 100m breaststroke, touching the wall in 57.50 seconds.

Last season, McSharry was the silver medalist in the same event and she became the first Tennessee women’s swimmer to win the event since Molly Hannis achieved the feat in 2012.

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"Definitely some nerves, but I think they helped push me and made sure that I got my hands on the wall first,” McSharry said.

“I think it's just unbelievable. I mean winning is great but being able to do it in a pool that you're in every morning and every evening and with so many teammates standing around is just unbelievable."

The Marlins Swimming Club graduate took bronze in the 200m breaststroke with a 2:07.29 swim.

McSharry was part of the silver-medal winning 400m medley, 200m medley relay and 200m freestyle relay teams.

McSharry’s haul helped the Tennessee Lady Vols be crowned the SEC champions.

University of Tennessee’s Associate Head Coach Ashley Jahn said of the Grange woman: "Mona continues to bring a level of competitive intensity that is just awesome for our entire team and all of our female athletes.

“She is curious and continues to look for ways to get better. She holds herself to an extremely high standard. I think the thing that she has done well this meet is taking a deep breath stepping back and taking a look at the whole picture and enjoying the competition.

“This year, she has set even higher standards and goals for herself.”