LOCAL COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Thomas’ Perry Lindo repeats as NAIA swim champion

Thomas University senior Perry Lindo has won back-to-back national championships in the 50-yard freestyle after taking the crown at the NAIA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships at the Columbus Aquatic Center on Thursday.

After placing sixth in the preliminaries with a time of 20.86, Lindo raced to the championship in 20.15 in the finals.

Senior Alex Haymond placed fifth in the event, touching the wall at 20.70, after taking third in the preliminaries (20.58).

The Night Hawks’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Haymond, Ethan Bainbridge, Victor Dos Santos and Lindo swam to a third-place finish (1:22.55), and the 400-yard medley relay team of Juan Pablo Robles, Mitch Graham, Lindo and Haymond finished ninth (3:27.33).

In the 500-yard freestyle, Vincent Lijoi swam to a fourth-place finish with a time of 4:32.46.

Friday, Graham swam 54.87 to take second in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Graham also teamed up with Robles, Lindo and Haymond to finish fourth in the 200-yard medley relay, with a time of 1:32.94.

Two Night Hawks finished in the top 10 in the 200-yard freestyle as Haymond took third (1:40.36) and Vincent Lijoi placed ninth (1:42.30).

Sessions honored by Peach Belt

Georgia Southwestern junior guard R.J. Sessions has been named to the Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball second team.

Sessions started all 27 games and led the Hurricanes in scoring (15.3 points per game), minutes played per game (34.1), 3-pointers made per game (2.5) and free throw percentage (86 percent). Sessions was third on the team in rebounding, averaging five boards a game.

Sessions scored in double-figures in 21 of the Hurricanes 27 games this season, including scoring more than 20 points seven times. He scored a season high 30 points in an 81-72 win at Albany State on Nov. 15.

The Hurricanes were 7-2 this season when Sessions led the Hurricanes in scoring. Sessions stood out among the leaders in the Peach Belt Conference, as well. He was fourth in minutes played per game, third in total 3-pointers made and ninth in scoring average during the regular season.

Thomas softball takes two

The Thomas University softball team posted a pair of wins Friday in the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Alabama, defeating LSU-Alexandria 6-2 and Campbellsville (Kentucky) 9-0.

The game two shutout of the Tigers was Thomas’ fifth of the season. Lauren West earned the win for the Night Hawks, allowing just three hits and striking out five in a five-inning complete game.