The UC San Diego women’s swimming and diving team edged Grand Canyon University, 150-141, while the Triton men fell to the visiting Antelopes, 202.5-95.5, in dual meets at the Canyonview Aquatic Center on Saturday.
With the results, the UCSD women, ranked No. 4 nationally in Division II, improved to 4-2 on the season. The seventh-ranked men are now 2-3. The Tritons welcomed a trio of Division I foes in GCU, Incarnate Word and San Diego State, but did not get scored against the latter two opponents, having already met them at SDSU last Monday. The Aztec women remained undefeated at 14-0 with wins over GCU (180-106) and UIW (184-107). The GCU men (5-1) easily got past UIW (1-5) as well, 213-85. The Grand Canyon women (5-4) were nipped by UIW (3-8), 151-146.
A total of 12 Canyonview Aquatic Center records fell on the day, with five on the men’s side, all by GCU, and seven on the women’s. Three of those came from SDSU, alongside two each by the Antelopes and Cardinals.
The women’s meet with the ‘Lopes was a back and forth affair late. GCU held a relatively comfortable 112-90 advantage after 11 of 16 events. Through 13 events, UCSD had taken its first lead of the afternoon, at 121-119, after Naomi Thomas (58.36) and Jaclyn Amog (59.32) went 1-2 in the 100-yard butterfly, with freshman Jayna Wittenbrink grabbing two more points for her side in 59.69.
With three-meter diving added to the mix during the second of two breaks, a deadlock was achieved at 128-128. The ‘Lopes actually regained a 139-135 edge following the 400 individual medley as Hannah Kastigar earned the nine first-place points in 4:22.39. That meant the winner of the final 200 free relay would take the meet, regardless of who placed second or third among the point-scoring spots.
The Triton ‘B’ relay, in fact, went 1:38.56, to nab those all-important 11 points. The foursome was made up of sophomore Natalie Tang, Amog, fellow fourth-year senior Eva Chen, and freshman anchor Haley Murphy. UCSD’s ‘A’ relay was second for good measure, in 1:38.72, with GCU’s top group timing 1:38.82.
The Tritons went 1-2-3 in the men’s mile (1650 free) early on behind sophomores Sasha Mitrushina (16:18.43) and Chandler Pourvahidi (16:24.70), and junior Kyle Nadler (16:25.64). Junior Cole Heale (20.99) and senior co-captain Jack Galvan (21.18) were 2-3 in the 50 free. Galvan added a third-place finish in the 100 (46.63).
Other runner-up finishes in men’s individual events were turned in by junior co-captain Paul Li (200 free, 1:44.05),Julian Jacobs (100 back, 52.59), Adam Springer (one-meter diving, 254.70), AJ Zavala (200 breast, 2:07.29), Kevin Wylder (100 fly, 50.96), and Zachary Yong (400 IM, 4:09.41).
Julia Toronczak (Santee/West Hills HS) was third-fastest in the 200 back (2:06.00). A second UCSD freshman,Stephanie Sin, was fifth in the grueling mile (17:44.60). Natalie Tang (200 free, 1:56.87), Toronczak (100 back, 59.25) and Haley Hamza (500 free, 5:19.31) produced fourth-place efforts for the Triton women. Maddy Huttner had the fifth fastest marks in the 100 back (59.92) and 400 IM (4:33.81).
The Tritons remain at home for more dual meets on Sunday, Jan. 4, with the men taking on No. 21 Missouri S&T and No. 23 Colorado Mesa, and the women competing against CMU and Division I San José State beginning at 11 a.m. at the Canyonview Aquatic Center.
