In a quad meet this weekend, the UC San Diego Women added three wins to their record after beating Cal State Bakersfield, Colorado Mesa, and Loyola Marymount. On the men’s side of the meet, UC San Diego beat out Colorado Mesa and Cal State Bakersfield. Full results can be found here. Read on for recaps from all participating teams.
UC San Diego:
LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego got individual first-place finishes from senior swimmers in seven events and also saw two freshmen divers become the first Tritons to officially book their trips to the NCAA Championships Saturday while sweeping away the competition on Senior Day at the Canyonview Aquatic Center.
The Triton women, ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II, pushed their dual-meet record back above the .500 mark at 7-5 following comfortable wins over Division I CSU Bakersfield (3-5), 193-105, and Loyola Marymount (1-8), 220-72, and No. 24 Colorado Mesa (1-4), 246-46. The fifth-ranked UCSD men are 5-3 on the heels of victories against CSUB (1-4), 165-133, and No. 21 Colorado Mesa (2-3), 214-66.
In other matchups, the CSUB men knocked off CMU, 213-81, while the Roadrunner women cruised past both LMU, 204-88, and CMU, 230-62.
Local product Brooke Abrantes (Santee/Santana HS), celebrating her 19th birthday in style, and teammate Patty Sullivan, each attained the minimum qualifying score in three-meter springboard diving, and will head to Indianapolis, Ind., for the NCAA Division II Championships in March. They have both earned entry into pre-qualification on the eve of the four-day meet, on Tuesday, March 8, and will be able to dive both one-meter and three-meter there. Abrantes compiled 280.35 points over her six dives for second place, eclipsing the standard of 265. Sullivan was fourth with a score of 260.10, just narrowly off, and through a provision was able to take five more attempts, with her 11-dive total above the 420-point threshold at 451.50. The rookie duo went 2-3 (245.85, 239.30) in the one-meter event.
“Absolutely the highlight of the meet was Brooke and Patty qualifying for NCAA’s and the dive-in,” said sixth-year Triton diving coach Michelle Casillas. “I’m really proud of both of them. Brooke did two new dives today to increase her degree of difficulty, and the rest of the team also stepped it up and just did really well. They all rallied around each other and pumped each other up, so it was an exciting day.”
Seniors Howie Chang and Colleen Daley swept the men’s distances and women’s sprints. Chang timed a season-best 9:35.05 for his first NCAA B cut in the 1000-yard freestyle, before going 4:38.97 in the 500 to touch the wall first by almost seven full seconds. Daley, a second-year co-captain, went 23.73 in the 50 and 52.14 in the 100, also consideration qualifiers, though she has gone faster in both this season.
Tri-captain Cole Heale sprinted 20.91 to take first in the men’s 50, and was narrowly touched out in the 100 (46.52) by Chris Salcido of CSUB (46.19). Fellow fourth-year senior AJ Zavala was fastest in the 100 breaststroke (58.15), with junior teammate Zachary Yong right behind him in second (58.27). The duo swapped in the 200, Yong first in 2:04.40 and Zavala next in 2:06.99.
Finally, Dari Watkins, the longest-standing member of the UCSD swim and dive programs now in her fifth year as a Triton, placed first in the 200 free in 1:53.29. She was also second in the 100 butterfly in 57.23.
UCSD student-athletes took first-place honors in 20 out of 28 swimming events in all on the day. In addition to the seven seniors, a pair of San Diego natives in junior Michael Cohn (Solana Beach/Grossmont College) and sophomore Julia Toronczak (Santee/West Hills HS) swept their respective backstroke races. Cohn timed 50.15 in the 100 and 1:48.82 in the 200, with Toronczak going 57.17 and 2:04.34 on the women’s side to continue her dual-meet domination this season in her best stroke.
Also achieving sweeps were sophomore Stephanie Sin in the distances (5:05.80, 10:25.61) and junior Jaimie Bryanin the breast (1:04.98, 2:20.90).
The remaining Triton individual first-place finisher was impressive freshman Garrett Tse, who sped to a thrilling success in his first collegiate 200 fly in 1:54.14 through a strong back half. He was runner-up in both the 100 fly (50.55) and 200 individual medley (1:52.39).
UCSD was fastest in the women’s 200 medley relay (1:46.32) with junior co-captain Natalie Tang, Bryan, seniorNaomi Thomas and anchor Daley. The Tritons also whitewashed the 400 free relays to conclude the meet. Tang, Watkins, Sin and Daley combined for 3:32.05 for the women, and senior Michael Leung, Cohn, sophomore Samuel Lee and Heale went 3:05.63 for the men. Heale expertly held off CSUB’s Lovre Soric down the last 25-yard stretch in his final competitive home swim.
A total of 15 outstanding seniors taking part in the final home meet of their careers were recognized prior to the start. They were Chang, Daley, Heale, Leung, Thomas, Watkins, Zavala, Allyson Cohen, Max Halson, Maddy Huttner,Paul Li, Caitlyn Lozano, Alex Moshensky, Kyle Nadler and Garet Webster.
Triton swimmers totaled 12 NCAA consideration times for the afternoon, with Chang posting the only new one.
Chang led a 1-2-3 UCSD finish in the 1000 ahead of Nadler (9:41.53), who put together a huge back half, and junior Sasha Mitrushina (9:46.23). Nadler was third in the 500 (4:46.05). Tang (1:55.48) and Huttner (1:55.76) were 3-4 in the 200 free, with Huttner third in the 200 back (2:11.18) and second in the 200 IM (2:08.74). Li (1:42.69) andAustin Takeda (1:44.31) went 2-3 in the 200 free. Angie Phetbenjakul touched third in the 100 breast (1:07.65) and fourth in the 50 (24.71). Thomas (2:06.84), Jayna Wittenbrink (2:10.56) and Emily Lambert (2:10.78) strung together a 2-3-4 effort in the 200 fly. Thomas was fourth in the 100 fly (57.82).
The UCSD swimmers and divers head to Riverside next Saturday, Jan. 16, for dual meets against nationally-ranked Division II rival California Baptist. The action at the Lancer Aquatics Center gets underway at 12 p.m.
Bakersfield:
LA JOLLA, Calif.—The Roadrunner men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are exactly whereChris Hansen, Director of Swimming for CSU Bakersfield, wants his student-athletes to be for this time of year. After coming off a hard month of December with rigorous training, the ‘Runners are posted strong times at a multi-team meet hosted by UC San Diego. The CSUB women went 2-1 in the meet while junior diver Carlee Burks smashed a CSUB record and the men split their duals on Saturday.
Women
“We beat LMU and Colorado Mesa pretty bad today,” said Hansen. “Unfortunately, we had to pull Michaela Paige due to an injury, which made UCSD hard to beat. However, the ladies were awesome today. This was, by far, our best meet of the season for the women.”
The Roadrunner women (3-5) defeated both Colorado Mesa and Loyola Marymount handily this weekend. Without Paige, the ‘Runners fell to UCSD, a squad currently ranked No. 2 among all NCAA Division II teams, 193-105.
One of the many highlights of the day for CSUB was Burks’ record-breaking performance on the 3-meter board. A native of Bakersfield, Calif., the junior came into the meet ranked third all-time for the ‘Runners with a mark of 294.75 from a season ago. On Saturday, the Centennial High School graduate posted a score of 337.28, leap frogging her way to the top of the school record book.
Burks’ mark smashed the 11-year-old record held by Laura Lafranchise (310.80) while the junior has the top dive in the Western Athletic Conference this season by over 55 points. She went on to win the 1-meter board as well, with another personal best mark (301.50), raising her previous best by 16 points and jumping from third to second all-time for CSUB in the event.
Junior Paola Hernandez swam in the 200 IM and earned a victory on Saturday with her fastest dual meet swim this year. The junior from Cabrillo, Calif. outpaced the next closest competitor by over a second with a winning time of 2:07.55. The mark in La Jolla sets Hernandez up for a good shot at breaking her own CSUB record in the event (2:03.34) later this year.
Nicolette Goncalves, a senior from Mississauga, Ontario, finished second in the 200 back. Her time of 2:07.96 was Goncalves’ third-best of the season, but her fastest time since the ‘Runners went to the A3 Performance Invitational in November. “Nicolette’s 200 back was her fastest dual meet time ever!” said Hansen. “I’m psyched to see her setting herself up for a great WAC. Fellow seniors Chrisy Vo and Kelsey Lange also had great swims today.”
Men
CSUB’s men defeated Colorado Mesa 213-81, but fell to UCSD 165-133 in a tight dual. The Tritons are ranked No. 5 in Division II on the men’s side and presented a tough matchup for the ‘Runners, who pleased their coach with their performances: “We swam and dove great today. It was great to see freshmen Justice Kramer andChristopher Salcido step up and attack their races.”
Kramer, a native of Federal Way, Wash., finished second in the 200 fly (1:55.76), sixth in the 200 back (1:58.24), and fourth in the 200 IM (1:58.15) on Saturday. His time in the 200 back was a collegiate-best mark for the freshman while his other two marks are strong for this time of the season.
“Chris had a great meet today, winning both the 100 and 200 free,” said Hansen of Salcido. “Both were big times for the freshman. He really is racing smart.” Salcido edged out a tight win in the 100 free with a time of 46.19 before taking the 200 free by over a second (1:41.38). The freshman from Maryville, Tenn. was only off his collegiate-best time by .28 seconds in the 100 and lowered his best 200 time by .20.
“Joe Cobarrubias also had a great 200 free today,” Hansen said after his sophomore swimmer posted a time of 1:44.57 to finish fourth. “He is swimming for a spot on the WAC 800 free relay.”
While Brayden Greenwald was unable to break any school records, he dove nearly as well as Burks on Saturday. The sophomore from Henderson, Nev. earned victories on both the 1-meter (307.43) and 3-meter (299.93) boards. His 1-meter score raised Greenwald’s personal best by 23 points and moved him from fifth all-time for the ‘Runners to second.
Two of Hansen’s international swimmers also impressed their coach on Saturday: “Lovre Soric and Mihael Vukicreally stepped up and raced hard today. Both put up fast times for this part of the season. Mihael, Chris, Joe, and Lovre really swam a fast 400 free relay. We haven’t swam that fast in season in a long time.”
For full results and times from today’s meet, please open the linked PDF.
What’s Next?
The Roadrunner swimmers will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 23, when CSUB heads to a tri-meet against Fresno Pacific and UC Santa Cruz. Before those duals, the ‘Runner divers will have their next chance to qualify for the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships. Burks has already qualified in one event and she and the rest of the ‘Runners will tackle the UCLA Diving Invitational, Jan. 16-17.
Colorado Mesa:
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – The Colorado Mesa University swimming and diving team returned to action Saturday (Jan. 9) at UC San Diego.
Justin Hastings, Josh Bedford, Chris Radomski and Sky Hirsch combined to take the win in the 200 medley in a time of 1:33.31.
Hastings would finish second in the 100 back (51.26) and fourth in the 200 back (1:54.82).
Miranda Reetz led the women with a runner-up finish in the 100 breast (1:08.48).
Josh Bedford placed third in the 100 breast (58.61), and Ethan McNally was third in the 200 individual medley (1:56.18).
Jason Hicks finished fifth in both the 200 free (1:46.29) and 500 free (4:49.52).
Eryn Leonard finished fifth in the 200 fly (2:11.83), sixth in the 100 free (54.52) and seventh in the 100 fly (59.87).
Sky Hirsch finished fifth in the 50 free (21.86) and seventh in the 100 free (49.43).
Josh Bedford placed fifth in the men’s 200 breast (2:12.62), and Abby Porter was sixth in the women’s (2:36.61).
Olivia Hudson was sixth in the 200 back (2:15.22), and Danielle Fournier was seventh in the 200 fly (2:12.64).
In the 1,000 free, Ryan Gifford placed sixth (9:52.62) and Abby Porter was seventh (11:13.88).
The men’s 400 free relay finished third (3:10.27) and the women’s 200 medley relay was fifth (1:53.21).
The Colorado Mesa University swimming and diving teams will host Lindenwood Jan. 12th.
Swimming news courtesy of UC San Diego, Colorado Mesa, and CSU Bakersfield Swimming & Diving.