The Western Kentucky University men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs won the Golden Grizzly Quadrangular Meet on Saturday afternoon.

The Hilltoppers (4-0) defeated IUPUI, 182-59, took care of host Oakland, 127-114, and beat Wayne State, 191-32. The Lady Toppers (4-0) defeated IUPUI, 205-38, Oakland, 137-106, and Wayne State, 193-50.

The men’s fate was not decided until the end as they needed to win the last event — the 400 Free Relay — to claim victory over Oakland. Greg Gerum, Lukasz Herbst, Brian Lewis, and Francis Gilmore swam the race in 3:04.66 to defeat Oakland by just under two seconds.

“We swam phenomenally well for this time of year as we had several personal best,” head coach Bruce Marchionda said. “It was truly a total team effort from start to finish and the last relay highlighted the meet.”

WKU got things started by sweeping the top three spots in the 500 Free. Sean Penhale earned first with a time of 4:40.75, Sean Shannon took home second (4:41.28) and Kevin Cargill finished third (4:44.65). Penhale won the 1000 Free as well in a time of 9:34.69, as Shannon finished third in that event in 9:40.36. Cargill collected third in the 200 Free (1:43.86) right behind Gerum, who finished second (1:41.76).

Gilmore won the 50 Free (21.31) and came in second in the 200 Back (1:51.43). Lewis tallied second in the 200 IM (1:54.42) and third in the 200 Fly (1:54.77). Peyton Thomas placed second in the one-meter dive, scoring 269.85 points, while finishing third in the one-meter, totaling 250.10 points. Herbst was the fourth individual winner for the Toppers after he placed first in the 100 Free in 46.63.

For the Lady Toppers, Claire Donahue was victorious in the 200 Fly (2:08.18) and finished second in the 200 Free (1:54.37). Kaitlyn Casper won the 100 Free event in a time of 53.80 and finished third in the 200 Free (1:56.57). Erica Wilson won the three-meter dive, scoring 225.15 points and tied Emily Waits for second in the one-meter after posting 225.10 points. Brittany Doss was the other winner for WKU, finishing first in the 200 Breast (2:24.02) while Kelly Hargather came in third (2:26.32).

Krista Mantay came in second in both the 500 Free (5:05.16) and the 1000 Free (10:30.95). Mallory Neltner finished second in the 50 Free (24.69). She came in third in the 200 Back (2:08.35) right behind Jessica Aspinall, who finished second in a time of 2:06.75.

Both squads will put their unblemished record on the line when they head to Atlanta, Ga., next Saturday (Nov. 3) to face Georgia Tech at 1 p.m. (CDT).

 

 

Junior Sophia Gustafsson and redshirt sophomore Agnes Solan won a pair of events to lead the Oakland University women’s swimming and diving team at the Golden Grizzly Quad Meet on Saturday in the Recreation and Athletics Center (RAC). Gustafsson clocked times of 5:04.57 and 10:26.76 in the 500- and 1000-yard freestyle events, while Solan posted times of 2:08.57 in the 200 individual medley and 2:03.87 in the 200 backstroke.
 
Frshman Chelsea Oates captured the one-meter springboard with a score of 237.20, and finished second on the three-meter board with a score of 269.85, just missing a NCAA Zone Diving qualifying mark.
 
Sophomore Sarah Ludema and freshman Lauren Patterson each won events for the Golden Grizzlies. Ludema clocked a time of 24.35 in the 50 free, while Patterson swam a time of 1:54.27 in the 200 free.
 
Senior Riley Rigoli touched the wall in second place in the 100 free with a time of 53.91.
 
The Golden Grizzlies will host Wright State University for a dual meet next Saturday, Nov. 3, in the RAC. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.