Swimcloud

UConn Sweeps Copa Coqui Invite

The University of Connecticut men’s and women’s swimming programs competed at the 2016 Copa Coqui Invitational on Tuesday, where the two teams each finished on top of their respective sides, posting the highest combined score for the second-straight year to claim the overall meet title. Multiple Huskies earned first-place finishes in the annual event that features swimmers from a variety of colleges across the country.

Two UConn women’s swimmers, freshman Julie Hu (Wilton, Conn.) and junior Deanna Parsons (Ellicott City, Md.), each finished first in one of the 12 individual events in San Juan. Parsons took first in the 100-freestyle, finishing with a time of 1:01.68. She edged out Illinois State’s Savannah Rubocki (1:02.68) and teammate junior Margot Manning (Frederick, Md.), who posted a time of 1:02.89.

Hu recorded a solid time in the 100-breaststroke, winning the race in 1:17.48. The rookie beat out fellow Husky senior Laura Hyland (Southport, England), who touched the wall second in 1:18.01. Senior Laura Ruttan (Stittsville, Ontario) and sophomore Sammi Bassman (Austin, Texas) both finished in the top five of the event. Junior Christine Pedersen (Vinterbro, Norway) swam the 100-backstroke in 1:08.13 to claim second place while sophomore Sophia King (Chesterfield, Va.) placed third in the 100-butterfly (1:09.89).

Thanks to the dominate performances, Parsons and Hu were named the Female Co-Swimmers of the Meet.

Ruttan joined freshmen Annika Grewal (Oakville, Ontario) and Jackie Van Lew (Tinton Falls, N.J) along with junior Sophie Nothnagle (Victor, N.Y.) to finish third in the 200-medley relay in a time of 2:12.31. Pedersen, Hyland and Manning teamed up with sophomore Emily Parillo (Phillipston, Mass.) to come in fourth (2:12.39). Rookie Danielle Bordes (Alpharetta, Ga.), Parsons, juniors Jordan Drake (Marietta, Ga.) and Madeleine Hoopes (Greensburg, Pa.) took second with a time of 1:55.45 in the 200-freestyle relay.

UConn’s men’s swimmers got things started off right in the relay events. Senior Jeff Magin (Brookfield, Conn.), junior James Donlevy (Lake Grove, N.Y.), senior Ryan Walsh (Monroe, N.Y.) and freshman Mark Hunter (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) won the 200-medley relay after they finished the race in 1:50.48. Donlevy and Magin joined sophomore Daniel Krentsa (Brookfield, Conn.) and freshman Luke Martin (Richmond, Va.) for a first-place finish in the 200-freestyle relay (1:38.70). The Huskies also had quartets claim third in both relays.

In the 100-freestyle, Krentsa touched the wall in 56.29 to take second while junior Kevin Konarski (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) placed fourth with a time of 56.84. Magin completed the 100-backstroke in 1:00.41 for a second-place finish while freshman Matthew Dagenais (Middletown, Conn.) took third (1:04.03) and sophomore Walker Hill (Jacksonville, Fla.) was fourth (1:06.58).

The Huskies are back in action on Jan. 24 when they resume their dual meet schedule on the road against Seton Hall. The meet is slated for a 1 p.m. start in South Orange, N.J.

 

Illinois State

The Illinois State swimming and diving team concluded its annual training trip at the 12th annual Copa Coqui Invitational Tuesday, taking second place out of four teams.
 
The Redbirds had a total point score of 37, behind Connecticut, who took first with 41 points. St. Cloud State took third and Minnesota State-Moorhead took fourth.
 
Several Redbirds made key contributions Tuesday. Kristin Verkler raced to a first-place finish in the senior 100-long-course-meter butterfly event, swimming a time of 1:08.27 seconds. Rachel Root who also swam to first place in the senior long-course-meter backstroke event (1:06.55).
 
Savannah Rubocki placed second in the senior 100-long-course-meter freestyle event with a time of 1:02.68 seconds, while Courtney Taylor earned a third-place finish in the senior 100-long-course-meter breaststroke event (1:18.62).
 
The Redbird team of Sarah Thomas, Laura Paskoff, Rachel Holm and Taylor also captured first place in the senior 200-long-course-meter freestyle relay, swimming a time of 1:52.69 seconds.
 
Illinois State head swimming coach Scott Cameron was pleased with his team’s effort Tuesday.
 
“We are approaching the end of our training trip and it’s great to see the team swim fast and put up some lifetime-best, long-course times,” said Cameron.
 
The Redbirds will return to Illinois later this week to prepare for their next two home meets, Jan. 15, against Northern Iowa, and Jan. 22, against Evansville, both held at Horton Pool.

 

MSU-Moorhead

A runner-up finish from the 200 medley relay led the way for the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's swimming and diving team at the 12th Annual Copa Coqui Swim Meet in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

A dual meet scoring system was utilized, meaning finishers had to be top three in relays or top five individually to score.

The Dragons' 200 medley relay was second with a time of 2:10.70. That consisted of sophomore Erin Sullivan, senior Jackie Woods, senior Annika Bordak and junior Ashley Higgins.

Senior Annika Bordak was eighth in the 100 fly in 1:12.54 while Sullivan was eighth in the 100 back in 1:12.98.

Freshman Taylor Beynon was 10th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:25.09 while Woods was 11th in 1:25.50. Freshman Linnea Johnson was MSUM's top finisher in the 100 free with a time of 1:06.26.

MSUM's 200 free 'B' relay was seventh in 2:01.51. That consisted of freshman Josephine Hudoba, Johnson, senior Viviane Nagasaki and freshman Natalie Huntley.

The Dragons may have a practice/competition with Long Island University Post on Wednesday, depending on LIU Post's arrival time. 

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