The San Diego State Aztecs swimmers defeated the University of San Diego Toreros (33-24), for the second year in a row, in a duel pentathlon held on Friday afternoon at the Aztec Aquaplex. Taking the wins in every event, as well as eight of the top ten individual pentathlon slots, the Aztecs commanded from the beginning and never looked back, much like their 2013 victory.
With only a few weeks of training under their belts, both teams made their season debuts, showing form that was not too shabby. The pentathlon format called for five events: 100 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Back, 100 Breast, and the 100 Individual Medley. The aggregated time for the five events determined the overall winner. Following the pentathlon, the action continued with 50s in each stroke and a 500 free to boot.
In a total time of 4:54.30, the Aztec sophomore from Sweden, Frida Berggren, took the top spot individually, battling with sophomore teammate Anika Apostalon (4:55.41). Apostalon looked to be in complete control after the free, fly, and back events, but her breaststroke was a chip in the armor, as she conceded more than four seconds to Berggren, who used the opportunity to seal the deal. In the end, Berggren had edged the 2014 All-American Apostalon by just over a second. Aztec junior Natilee Ruiz rounded out the podium in 4:59.17. Natilee Ruiz looks to be coming back well after dealing with injury her freshman year.
Senior Taylor Noonan was the top performer from the Torero’s, taking the ninth spot overall in a total time of 5:12.91. Senior Keenan Lineback took the top placing in an individual event for the Toreros, placing second in the 500 free, with a 5:08.85, arguably the most impressive individual swim for USD.
Individual pentathlon event winners were: Anika Apostalon (100 Free-50.60 and 100 I.M.-58.31), Frida Berggren (100 Fly-56.76), Natilee Ruiz (100 Back-57.44), and Cecilia Zaccarelli (100 Breast-1:05.18).
Individual event winners in events not counted in the pentathlon were: Savannah Miller (50 Fly-25.19), Apostalon (50 Back-26.72 and 50 Free-23.45), Zaccarelli (50 Breast-30.76), and Berggren (500 Free-5:06.32).
The Toreros will start their regular season in Los Angeles, with a double duel meet against LMU and UC Davis, on November 2. The Aztecs will start earlier with two double duel meets in Nashville, against Vanderbuilt and Campbell on October 10, and Vanderbuilt and Arkansas on October 11.
From the headline I was expecting violence!