UC Santa Barbara captured both the men's and women's swimming and diving championships as the 2006 Big West championship meet concluded today at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach. On the strength of a combined six victories in 12 events today, the Gauchos held off UC Davis and UC Irvine to win their 25th men's title and 10th women's title overall.

The Gaucho men recorded 821.0 points to beat out second place UC Davis which had 733.0 points. UC Irvine came in third with 644.5 points and Pacific fourth with 615.0 points. Rounding out the men's team scoring were Cal Poly (293.0) and Cal State Northridge (292.5).

UCSB's women edged out a tough UC Davis squad, with the Gauchos scoring 785.0 points to the Aggies' 756.0. Last year's champion, UC Irvine, finished third with 722.5 points. Pacific (615.0), Cal Poly (249.5) and Cal State Northridge (247.0) rounded out the scoring.

Individual event winners for UCSB on the men's side today included junior Pat Cary and sophomore Brooks Felton. Cary stormed to victory in the 200 fly with a time of 1:45.58 while Felton won the 1,650 freestyle in 15:36.78. Both Gaucho swimmers won two events at this year's championships.

On the women's side, two freshmen emerged victorious for the Gauchos. Jessica Cruzat took home top honors in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:59.78. Freeman swam the 200 breaststroke in 2:15.88 for her second individual title of the meet to go with two first place finishes in relay events.

Pacific senior Laura McDonald obliterated her second record at this year's championship, posting a 16:24.87 in the 1,650 freestyle to crush the old mark of 16:30.46 set by Nevada's Ping Luo in 1999. McDonald also set a record on the first day of meet competition with her 9:53.66 in the 1,000 freestyle.

The Tigers had a strong finish on both the men's and women's side as they brought home three more victories to join McDonald's record-setting display. Ja-Neil Bragg captured her third individual title of the meet, winning the 100 free in 51.12. Sophomores David Dunn and Wojciech Betlej took home championships in the 200 breaststroke (1:59.29) and 200 backstroke (1:45.95). Betlej came within less than three-tenths of a second of setting a Big West meet record.

Other event winners today was UC Irvine's Eric Reilly in the 100 free with a time of 45.47 and Yuba Kobayashi of UC Davis swimming the 200 butterfly in 1:58.62.

In diving action, UCI's Franny Brittle won the women's 1-meter diving competition for the third straight year. The senior posted a 470.85 to barely outdistance teammate Jackie Jones, who had a 468.05. In the men's 3-meter diving, Brad Kern of UC Davis was victorious with a score of 529.60.

Top individual awards were also handed out with UC Santa Barbara, Pacific and UC Irvine being represented. Pacific's Krzysztof Zoldak was named Big West Men's Swimming Athlete of the Year while UC Davis' Scott Weltz was selected Men's Freshman of the Year.

For the first time in Big West history, three swimmers shared Athlete of the Year honors. Ja-Neil Bragg and Laura McDonald of Pacific joined UC Irvine's Chelsea Nagata for Women's Athlete of the Year accolades. The Big West Women's Freshman of the Year went to UC Santa Barbara's Katy Freeman.

UCSB's Gregg Wilson got the nod as Big West Men's and Women's Coach of the Year to round out top honors.

Final team results are as follows:

WOMEN
UC Santa Barbara - 785.0
UC Davis - 756.0
UC Irvine - 722.5
Pacific - 615.0
Cal Poly - 249.5
Cal State Northridge - 247.0

MEN
UC Santa Barbara - 821.0
UC Davis - 733.0
UC Irvine - 644.5
Pacific - 615.0
Cal Poly - 293.0
Cal State Northridge - 292.5

Women's Co-Athletes of the Year
Ja-Neil Bragg, Pacific
Laura McDonald, Pacific
Chelsea Nagata, UC Irvine

Women's Freshman of the Year
Katy Freeman, UC Santa Barbara

Women's Coach of the Year
Gregg Wilson, UC Santa Barbara

Men's Athlete of the Year
Krzysztof Zoldak, Pacific

Men's Freshman of the Year
Scott Weltz, UC Davis

Men's Coach of the Year
Gregg Wilson, UC Santa Barbara
			
		
		

				
					

						
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