California-San Diego
Triton freshman Stephanie Sin's All-American performance in school-record time highlighted day one for UC San Diego at the 2015 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. The four-day meet is being hosted inside the IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI by the University of Indiana and the Indiana Sports Corporation.
A product of Chatsworth, Sin was fifth in 10:03.22 to better her own program standard of 10:07.10, set in a winning effort at last month's Pacific Collegiate Swimming & Diving Conference (PCSC) Championships. Over the course of an incredible first season of college swimming, Sin thus lowered Sophie Levy's previous nine-year-old school record of 10:08.15 by nearly five seconds. She and Niki Johnston of Queens in the lane next to her were neck and neck for third and fourth in the event's final, fastest heat to begin the meet’s first evening session, with Johnston ultimately touching Sin out by a mere .03 seconds. Both of their times were behind the top swimmer from prior heats, Drury's Allie Reynolds, who went 10:00.31. Alecia McGillivray (9:58.42) of Lindenwood knocked off 2014 champion Alli Crenshaw (10:02.53) of Florida Southern, with Crenshaw's time good for third.
"Coming in, I was nervous for weeks, and just wanted to get that first (NCAA) swim out (of the way)," remarked Sin. "I still had a lot of nerves right before the race, but once I hit the water, I felt great, and just tried to concentrate on sticking with my plan, being steady at 14 strokes and staying long and strong. Having that in mind and hearing all of my teammates cheering on the side, well I think the adrenaline really kicked in."
"As a freshman, Stephanie has made huge progress," remarked Triton assistant Marko Djordjevic, Sin's primary coach. "She has come to understand that she is able to swim distance races, and has gained confidence with every single race. I truly believe in the next three years, she can achieve some amazing results."
The women's 200 medley relay of Austine Lee, Jaimie Bryan, Jaclyn Amog and anchor Colleen Daley went a season-best 1:42.41 in the championship final to finish fifth. The time was just off the school standard of 1:42.23 from the 2014 NCAA Championships, with Bryan, Amog and Daley all part of that effort as well. The foursome had gone 1:43.19 in morning prelims and snuck into the championship final as the seventh seed due to disqualifications for Alaska and LIU Post. The foursome took advantage of that good fortune, to the tune of All-America distinction for each Triton for the top-eight placement.
Chandler Pourvahidi went 9:18.78 for 13th place in the men’s 1000 for All-America honorable mention. The sophomore, an All-American in the event in his NCAA debut last year in 9:13.96, swam in the fastest final heat at night based on his school-record seed time of 9:11.40 from the conference meet. Junior Howie Chang, in his first race at an NCAA Championships in a morning heat, timed 9:24.59 for 19th.
A pair of juniors advanced into consolation finals, with Daley speeding 23.26 for fourth in the 50 free B final and 12th overall. The time fell just short of her personal best of 23.23, with the school record at 23.20. Maddy Huttnertook fifth in her race in the 200 individual medley in 2:05.29, putting her 13th overall. Both Tritons gained All-America honorable mention for their efforts on the day. Daley swam 23.48 for the 14th-fastest time in prelims, with Huttner's 2:04.87 in her NCAA debut for the Air Force transfer 13th best in the morning.
The men's 200 medley relay, similar to the women, benefitted from a morning disqualification, with Queens’ dismissal from the event putting the Triton foursome of Michael Cohn (Solana Beach/Grossmont College), Zachary Yong, Kevin Wylder and Howie Chang into the consolation final as the 16th and final seed to earn a second swim after going 1:33.16. At night, they went 1:33.01 for 16th overall.
Fourth-year senior Eva Chen narrowly missed out on a second swim in the 200 IM, her time of 2:04.99 leaving her in 17th as the first alternate for consolation finals.
"This is going to be a very fast meet, and the fact that we were able to return swimmers in every event we entered, has me feeling good about where we're going to be at the end," said UCSD women’s head coach Corrie Falcon. "Stephanie Sin's fifth-place finish in the 1000 was a highlight, but there were plenty of other exciting performances, and I think we have the potential to come back with a big day tomorrow."
Remaining competitors among the Triton women during Wednesday morning prelims were Amog (T-23rd, 23.71), Lee (33rd, 23.87), Natalie Tang (T-39th, 23.96), Catherine Woo (47th, 24.14) and Angie Phetbenjakul (49th, 24.19) in the 50 free, and Bryan (28th, 2:07.57) in the 200 IM. Amog, a fourth-year senior making her fourth trip to nationals, sprinted a lifetime-best mark in winning the third of seven heats from lane eight. Phetbenjakul’s race marked an NCAA debut for the true freshman.
Wylder, a freshman, went 20.89 seconds in the men's 50 free (50th) in his first appearance at the NCAA Championships. Yong competed in the 200 IM (36th, 1:54.29).
The Triton women are fifth in the standings with 51 points, while the men are 23rd with six.
Nova Southeastern
For the fourth time in program history, Nova Southeastern University swimming and diving is home to a national champion. Bryndis Hansen (So., Akureyri, Iceland) swam a NCAA Division II record time of 22.53 to take home the title in the women's 50-yard freestyle. She beat the previous NCAA DII record time of 22.54 by .01 seconds. Hansen and the NSU women sit in fourth place at the end of day one, scoring 57 points, while the men place ninth with 48 points.
Blake Woodrow (Fr., Fort Myers, Fla.) began Wednesday night's finals session, swimming a 9:15.19 in the men's 1000-yard freestyle, the tenth best time. He was followed by Courtney DeVeny (Fr., Estero, Fla.), who swam a time of 2:03.34 in the women's 200-yard individual medley consolation final, finishing in second place. Marco Aldabe (So., Alicante, Spain) then swam a time of 1:49.04 in the men's 200-yard individual medley, finishing in fifth place in the men's consolation final.
After Hansen won gold in the women's 50-yard freestyle, Thiago Sickert (So., Vila Velha, Brazil) took home third-place in the men's 50-yard freestyle, swimming a time of 19.88, just .06 seconds behind the winner.
The night concluded with the men's and women's 200-yard medley relays. The women's team, consisting of Emma Wahlstrom (So., Stockholm, Sweden) Malin Westman (Fr., Harryda, Sweden), Hansen and Emma Lawrenz (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) swam a time of 1:41.93, good enough for a fourth-place finish. The final event featured a first-place finish in the men's 200-yard medley relay consolation final, as Aldabe, Anton Lobanov (Fr., Novosibirisk, Russia), Magnus Lundgren (Sr., Stockholm, Sweden) and Michael Ragan (So., Dacula, Ga.) swam a time of 1:28.60.
Queens
Flying off the blocks, Queens University of Charlotte men’s and women’s swim teams took a fourth place ranking on the men’s side and a second place ranking on the women’s after the first day of competition at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships on March 11, 2015. Queens completed the day with two new national record times from Patricia Castro-Ortega and Matthew Josa in the 200 Yard Individual Medley.
Setting a new record this morning, Castro-Ortega followed with an even faster mark in the 200 Yard Individual Medley with a stunning 1:58.60 finish. Josa mirrored on the men’s side breaking the record time he set that morning with a new national time of 1:41.94. Josa’s time not only took the top time in Division II but would fall as the 19th all-time fastest for the event.
Carolina Arakelian gave the team a 1-2 sweep in the 200 Yard Individual Medley taking the silver with a 2:00.35. Hannah Peiffer gave the Royals their third ranking in the event grabbing eight in the top heat with a 2:03.65.
Benjamin Taylor found the wall in a 1:47.49 tying for 5th place in the 200 Yard Individual Medley to partner with Josa as the Royals put two in the top heat on the men’s side.
Two school records fell during the day’s performance as Nicholas Arakelian took gold in the 1000 Yard Freestyle clocking 8:58.47 and coming just shy of the national time. Alex Menke took a fourth place finish for the race finding the wall with a 9:09.93.
The other school record went to Lillian Gordy for the 50 Yard Freestyle, topping the time in both the preliminary races and in the finals. Her finals time of 23.06 holds as the new Queens record. Alexandra Marshall would also surpass the previous record taking first in the consolation heat with a 23.17 to tie Gordy’s preliminary time that morning.
The women’s 1000 Yard Freestyle put Kathryn Johnston in the top five grabbing fourth overall with a 10:03.19. Meridith Boudreaux and McKenzie Stevens grabbed 10th and 13th, respectfully, for the event. Boudreaux finished with a 10:06.71 while Stevens took a 10:10.77.
In the consolation heat for the men’s 50 Yard Freestyle found Niclas Eriksson with a 13th overall finish, 5th for the heat, with a 20.30 and Hayden Kosater took the 16th overall finish with a 20.45.
Queens concluded the night with the women’s 200 Yard Medley Relay securing a 6th place finish from Peiffer, Emma Durante, Madeleine Wallmon, and Marshall, respectfully. The team took a 1:42.55 finish.
Tampa
The University of Tampa men's and women's swimming teams started competition at the 2015 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships, registering several top performances on day one.
Through nine events, UT's men are 10th overall, as the women are 14th. Lindenwood (94) and Grand Valley State's (94) men are tied for the lead, while Drury's (128) women are up five points on Queens (123). Tampa's men have accumulated 44 points, with the women coming in at 18.
Freshman Brittany Bayes competed in the first event of the finals portion, finishing ninth overall in the 1,000 Free with a time of 10:06.23.
In the women's 200 IM, freshman Sophie Long was 22nd overall as she was clocked at 2:06.37. In the men's 200 IM, senior Zane Hranac was 31st with a 1:53.18 effort.
Senior Erin Plachy then raced in the 50 Free, placing 10th with a time of 23.22. Teammate Marisa Barton also competed in the event, finishing 15th at 23.42.
Runar Borgen became the first Spartan All-American, as he accomplished the feat in the sixth event. Borgen was fifth overall in the 50 Free, finishing with a time of 20.04. Martin Hammer (22nd, 20.46), Jeremy Parker (23rd, 20.49), Khalid Aldaboos (25th, 20.51), Derek Krell (27th, 20.55) and Jordan Augier (29th, 20.56) also represented UT in the event.
The Spartan men finished strong, receiving a fourth-place finish by the 200 Medley Relay team of Jordan Augier, Wayne Denswil, Borgen and Parker. The group also set a new school record, which was timed at 1:27.45.
West Florida
The West Florida women’s swimming and diving team came out strong on day one of the NCAA Division II Championships at the IU Natatorium on Wednesday. The Argonauts scored in two of the four events and sit in eighth place after the first day.
The Argonauts placed 23rd at last year’s NCAA national meet in the school’s inaugural season, and the highest rank they had at the end of a day at that meet was 19th.
Defending national champion Drury (128) holds a slim lead over Queens (N.C.) (123) through four events. Wingate (67), Nova Southeastern (57) and UC San Diego (51) round out the top five, and UWF’s conference rival Delta State (29) holds a slight edge over the Argonauts in seventh place.
Anna-Marie Macht (Markkleeberg, Germany) was the highlight for UWF on the first day, as the senior placed fifth in the 200-yard individual medley. Macht was eighth in the morning prelims with a time of 2:03.71, and she finished fifth in the evening final with a time of 2:01.79. Macht was the winner of the consolation final at nationals last year, but with the fifth place finish tonight she became the first Argonaut in school history to score in the championship final and clinch a spot on the All-America team.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Anna,” said UWF head coach Andrew Hancock. “She works hard at everything she does. She was able to carry on the form she had at the conference championship. We can’t wait to see what she can do the rest of this meet.”
The Argonauts also scored in the 200-yard medley relay with the team of Emily Mitchell (Allen Park, Mich.), Macht, Peggy de Villiers (Somerset West, South Africa) and Mariana de Paula (Santos, Brazil). The team finished the morning prelim in 11th place with a time of 1:45.62, and they held their spot in the consolation final by finishing 11th overall and third in the consolation with a mark of 1:44.84.
UWF had two participants in the 1,000-yard freestyle; Angelina Gallastegui (Brandon, Fla.) placed 19th with a time of 10:14.34, and fellow freshman Madeline Pitt (Trussville, Ala.) was 22nd with a mark of 10:17.34.
Paulina Szydlo (Wroclaw, Poland) and de Villiers competed in individual events during the morning prelim session. Szydlo was 39th in the 200 IM prelim with a time of 2:08.88, and de Villiers was 19th in the 50-yard freestyle prelim at 23.64. In the 50 free de Villiers was just 0.12 seconds behind the last qualifier for the consolation final.
Events coming up for the Argonauts on Thursday will include the 200 free relay, 400 IM (Pitt), 100 fly (de Villiers), 400 medley relay and the 1-meter diving competition (Monica Amaral, Josie McKee).
“We’re thrilled with how we look so far,” said Hancock. “We feel like we have some great events coming up that can really be strengths for us.”
Wingate
The Wingate University women's swimming team earned two bronze medals at the 2015 NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships Wednesday night. Sophomore Sofia Petrenko (Arkhangelsk, Russia) and the Bulldog 200 Medley Relay team both posted third-place finishes on the first night of the four-day event. The meet is being contested in the IU Natatorium on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
In addition, Wingate redshirt junior Julie Wessler (Sprockhövel, Germany) collected an All-American trophy in the 1000 Freestyle with her seventh-place performance. She swam a 10:05.94 Wednesday night. Lindenwood (Mo.) sophomore Alecia McGillivray (Flower Mound, Texas) won the distance race with her triumphant time of 9:58.42.
Petrenko set a new school record in the 200 Individual Medley with her third-place time of 2:00.37. Petrenko collected six All-American trophies during the 2014 NCAA meet. Queens University of Charlotte freshman Patricia Castro Ortega (Madrid, Spain) won the 200 IM race with a new NCAA meet record time of 1:58.60.
Wingate's 200 Medley Relay team also posted a new school record with its 1:41.87 clocking. Wingate's quartet includes junior Rita Koryukova (Omsk, Russia), redshirt sophomore Olga Kosheleva (Yekaterinburg, Russia), senior Jasmine Arzadon (Lorton, Va.) and junior Ana Fish (Carthage, N.C.). The Drury (Mo.) Panthers won the relay race with a new meet record time of 1:40.09.
Fish and junior classmate Armony Dumur (Amiens, France) picked up points for the Bulldogs by finishing fifth (23.32) and sixth (23.41), respectively, in the 50 Freestyle consolation finals. Both student-athletes are honorable mention All-Americans as a result of their sprint performances Wednesday night.
On the men's side, senior David Collum (DeLand, Fla.) finished eighth in the 200 Individual Medley consolation final with his time of 1:49.47. Queens sophomore Matthew Josa (Charlotte, N.C.) won the championship final with a new meet-record time of 1:40.09.
The Wingate men's 200 Medley Relay team earned a sixth-place finish in the consolation finals with a time of 1:30.82. Team members include sophomores Leif-Henning Klüver (Risum-Lindholm, Germany), Roman Kanyuka (Moscow, Russia) and Lucas Cuadros (Cali, Colombia) and junior Damjan Petrovski (Skopje, Macedonia).
On the team leader board, the Wingate women are third with 67 points. Drury is first with 128, while Queens is second with 123 markers. Nova Southeastern (57 points) and UC San Diego (51 points) are fourth and fifth, respectively. Lindenwood and Grand Valley State (Mich.) are tied for first place in the men's standings with 94 points each. The GVSU Lakers earned 30 points in the men's three-meter diving competition. Wingate is lodged in a four-way tie for 19th place with seven points.
