Aggies Tame Tigers to Begin Dual Meet Season

One day after downing the University of Texas for the 2009 Big 12 Relays title, the Texas A&M women’s swimming & diving team beat Missouri, 171-129, in its first dual meet of the year on Saturday morning.

The Aggies were led by three-time Olympic finalist Julia Wilkinson who won three events against the Tigers. Wilkinson displayed her versatility, winning the 100 free (50.19), 100 back (54.96), and 200 IM (2:03.59) one day after leading A&M to four wins at the Big 12 Relays. Wilkinson also teamed with senior Alia Atkinson, freshman Kendra Chernoff and junior Maria Sommer to start the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay (1:42.66).

Alia Atkinson, the Aggies’ other four-event winner at the Big 12 Relays on Friday, swept both breaststrokes to start the season. Atkinson, who swept the breaststrokes throughout the 2008-09 dual meet season, won the 100 beast in 1:03.18 and the 200 breast in 2:16.?.

A&M got a big boost in the distance events from freshman Maureen McLaine. McLaine, who turned in a big come-from-behind effort anchoring the 3 x 500 free relay on Friday, won both the 500 (4:54.09) and 1,000 (10:01.10) against the Tigers

Aggie junior Jaele Patrick began the dual meet season with a win on the one-meter. The A&M springboard school record holder totaled a score of 282.08 while Missouri’s Jordan Morcom won the three-meter (296.04). Sophomore Rita Medrano was the Aggies’ other single even t winner, taking the 200 fly in 2:00.24.

Host Missouri summoned up five wins against A&M in their third meet in three days. The Tigers earned freestyle wins from Lisa Nathanson (50 free, 23.05) and Washington transfer Kim Jasmer (200 free, 1:49.62). Senior Colleen Gordon won the 100 fly in 55.97 while Dominique Bouchard grabbed the 200 back (1:59.28). The Tigers closed the meet with a win in the 200 free relay as Nathanson, Cassie Cunningham, Jasmer, and Francie Szostak hit the wall first in 1:33.69.

Texas A&M will spend the next three weeks training before facing a rematch with the University of Texas in Austin on Nov. 6. Missouri will travel to Dallas to compete in the SMU Invitational next weekend.