It was a couple of tightly contested final set of events at the RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships, but California Baptist swept both the Men's and Women's Championships on Saturday evening at El Pomar Natatorium.
CBU won its third straight women's RMAC Championship, scoring 985 total points and besting second-place Lindenwood by 44.5 points.
It was the first men's RMAC title for the Lancers, and the win came by the narrowest of margins, beating Colorado Mesa by one point. The fight for the RMAC Championship came down to the final event, the 400 free relay, which CBU won with a time of 2:58.88, beating Lindenwood and Colorado Mesa to claim the title.
Following the conclusion of the meet, the RMAC awarded its postseason awards.
On the women's side, CBU's Breanne Schlenger won both the Diver of the Meet and Diver of the Year, while Lindenwood's Alecia McGillivray won both the Swimmer of the Meet and Swimmer of the Year. Western State's Randi Yarnell won the Freshman of the Year, while Western State's Geoff Hanson was named Coach of the Year.
The Diver, Swimmer, Freshman and Coach of the Year are voted on by the head coaches at the end of the RMAC Championships. Coaches cannot vote for their own student-athletes.
On the men's side, the Diver of the Meet was CBU's Zach Parry and the Swimmer of the Meet was Colorado Mesa's Sam Bryant. Lindenwood's Cristian Vasquez was voted Freshman of the Year, while Sage D'Ambrosia, of Colorado Mesa, was tabbed Diver of the Year. CBU's Joshua Hanson earned Swimmer of the Year honors. CBU's Rick Rowland and Lindenwood's Jason Owen shared the Co-Coach of the Year award.
The final night of the RMAC Championships started with the women's 1650 free, which was won by Lindenwood's Kyleigh Troxel with a time of 17:01.94. CBU's Christie Halverson turned in a time of 17:11.37, finishing second, while CBU's Courtney Chacon finished third (17.41.47).
Colorado Mesa's Sam Bryant claimed his fourth individual RMAC title with a pool-record time of 15:38.90. He bested CBU's Robert Griffith (15:40.44) and Elijah Barrows (15:51.25).
Western State's Randi Yarnell continued her strong week, winning her third RMAC individual title, winning the women's 100 free with a time of 50.82. CBU's Patricia Hapsari (50.85) finished second and Lindenwood's Bethany Steffes (51.72) finished third.
Lindenwood's Serghei Golban won the men's 100 free with a time of 44.07. CBU's Alexis Ohmar finished second with a time of 44.70, while Colorado Mesa's Sky Hirsch finished third with a time of 45.11.
The women's 200 backstroke was won by Colorado Mesa's Mary Saiz, who set a school record with a time of 1:58.01. Lindenwood's Alecia McGillivray (2:03.16) finished second and CBU's Kylie Mihid (2:04.05) finished third.
CBU's Joshua Hanson won the men's 200 backstroke, posting a time of 1:45.81. Colorado Mesa's Justin Hastings finished second with a time of 1:47.75, while Lindenwood's Krzysztof finished third with a time of 1:48.02.
The women's 200 breaststroke was won by CBU's Alena Rumiantceva, who finished with a time of 2:15.82. Colorado Mesa's Miranda Reetz (2:19.31) finished second, while Lindenwood's Ewa Dymarek (2:20.44) finished third.
Lindenwood's Mateusz Pacholczk won the men's 200 breaststroke, notching a time of 1:59.20. He was followed by Colorado Mesa's Josh Beford (2:02.32) and Colroado Mesa's Ryan Gifford (2:03.28).
The final diving event of the week was the men's three-meter dive. CBU's Zachary Parry won the event, posting a final score of 511.3. Lindenwood's Schyler Hohenberger (488.55) finished second, while Colorado Mesa's Sage D'Ambrosia (457.40) finished third.
The women's night wrapped up with the 400 free relay, which was won by Lindenwood with a time of 3:27.07. CBU finished second with a time of 3:28.37, while Colorado Mines finished third with a time of 3:28.89.
The aforementioned men's relay was the deciding factor in the men's title.
Women's Diver of the Meet: Breanne Schlenger, California Baptist
Women's Swimmer of the Meet: Alecia McGillivray, Lindenwood
Women's Freshman of the Year: Randi Yarnell, Western State
Women's Diver of the Year: Breanne Schlenger, California Baptist
Women's Swimmer of the Year: Alecia McGillivray, Lindenwood
Women's Coach of the Year: Geoff Hanson, Western State
Men's Diver of the Meet: Zach Parry, California Baptist
Men's Swimmer of the Meet: Sam Bryant, Colorado Mesa
Men's Freshman of the Year: Cristian Vasquez, Lindewood
Men's Diver of the Year: Sage D'Ambrosia, Colorado Mesa
Men's Swimmer of the Year: Joshua Hanson, California Baptist
Men's Co-Coaches of the Year: Rick Rowland, California Baptist/Jason Owens, Lindenwood
