Lumberjack swimmers earned the top times in all 14 events as the NAU swimming and diving team scored a 150-41 win against visiting Grand Canyon University at the Wall Aquatic Center. Four senior swimmers and two senior divers were honored as they competed in their final home meet. Diving was exhibition only as Grand Canyon does not have a diving team.
NAU is now 8-4 in dual meet competition this season, and will have one more dual meet at New Mexico State on Feb. 2 before competing at the WAC Championships from Feb. 20-23.
Eleven different NAU swimmers earned individual wins in the meet. Senior Becky Triemstra was a double individual winner, taking first in the 200 freestyle in 2:10.71 and also earning the top time in the 400 freestyle in 4:34.71.
Elizabeth Brook won the 800 freestyle, Laura D’Aniello won the 100 backstroke, Jessi Jones took first in the 100 breaststroke, Kimber Morelli was first in the 200 butterfly, Vivian Landeck won the 100 freestyle, Claire Ferro took first in the 200 backstroke, Kim Kopra took first in the 200 breaststroke, Tami Binek recorded the top time in the 100 butterfly and Renee Rother took the top time in the 200 IM.
Redshirt freshman Meredith Egloria, who was out all last year and most of this year with an injury, won the 50 freestyle by one and half seconds over second place and was just .27 off the pool record.
NAU’s 200 medley relay team of Egloria, Danielle Filipp, Binek and Lindsey Miller won with a time of 2:01.96, and the 400 freestyle relay team of Ferro, Miller, Rachael Foe and Binek put up the top time of 4:03.88.
“I thought we swam really well today,” said head coach Andy Johns. “Just getting out and racing is important when you have the conference meet coming up in a month. Preparation-wise, I feel pretty good about where everyone is. The New Mexico State meet will be a good indicator and after that it’s fine-tuning and getting ready to go.”
Triemstra, Candace Fajardo, Katie Munch, Julie Ward and divers Danielle Borth and Natalie Hughes were the six seniors honored at the meet.
“The seniors are such a great bunch of girls,” said Johns. “They are fun to be around and I’m going to miss the atmosphere that they bring to practice.”
