U of R Swim & Dive Collects Seven Wins in SCIAC Opener with La Verne

Image Credits: Lucas Walker
Image Credits: Lucas Walker

LA VERNE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Swimming & Diving teams took part in a tri-meet this past Saturday with the Master's University and the University of La Verne.  The match-up with the Leopards was the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener for the Bulldogs.

Redlands combined for seven podium finishes as both teams went 3-1.  The men swept the competition beating La Verne 166-27 and The Master's 123-78.  On the women's side they split on the day beating La Verne 162-39 but falling 128-84 to The Master's.      

Men

The Bulldogs earned wins in the 1000 Free from Davis Wingard (Springfield, OR) with a time of 10:19.50, 5.36 seconds better than the second place finisher.  Blake Eddow (Corona, CA) won the 200 Free with a time of 1:45.62, Jack Forsythe (Ladera Ranch, CA) took home the win in the 50 Free with a time of 22.11, the 200 Free went to Lucas Walker (Mountain View, CA)  in 1:57.97, the 100 Free was won by Memphis Gile (Highlands, CA) with a time of 48.29, the 500 Free was won by Tom Jansen (Pleasant Hill, CA) who finished on top with a 4:51.99, and in the 100 Breast Cole Goyette (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) beat the field posting a winning time of 1:01.60.

The Bulldogs' A and B relay teams in the 200 Medley took second and third with times of 1:38.85, only 0.56 behind the winners, and 1:44.03, respectively. The A team included Ethan Chir (Las Vegas, NV), Walker, Drew Heaston (Corona, CA), and Thomas Long (Brea, CA) as their anchor.

Then in the 200 Free Relay the Bulldogs' A and B teams again took second and third with times of 1:29.82 and 1:36.71, respectively. Eddow, Gile, Scott Shim (Seoul, South Korea), and anchor Forsythe led the Bulldogs. 

Women

Redlands did not pick up any wins on the women's side, but they did post 11 runner-up finishes. First-Year Diver Violet Schultz (Aurora, CO) started the podium finishes in the 1-Meter Dive where she missed first place by 1.35 points, scoring a 112.35. 

The other runners-up were Andrea Brenstrom (Shrewsbury, MA) in the 1000 Free with a time of 11:19.28, :33.47 seconds ahead of third place. Gabrielle Hayon (Agoura Hills, CA) was second in the 200 Free and the 500 Free with times of 2:04.70 and 5:35.47. Ashleigh Merrill (Anacortes, WA) was second in the 50 Free with a time of 26.50. Abby Springer (Paso Robles, CA) was the runner-up in the 200 IM and the 100 Back with times of 2:22.24 and 1:04.12. Sarah Szafranski (Houston, TX) swam a 1:03.79 in her second-place finish in the 100 Fly and Fernanda Garcia (Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico) took second in the 100 Breast with a 1:14.04.

The Bulldogs' A team in the 200 Medley Relay took second with a time of 2:00.26 with Hayon, Garcia, Springer, and anchor Ella Suazo (Littleton, CO). Then in the 200 Free Relay, the Bulldogs' A team again came up just short with a 1:49.47, 2.03 behind the winners. Leila Alejos (Portland, OR), Merrill, Emily Walos (Redlands, CA), and Suazo were the quartet for Redlands.

The Bulldogs will continue their November schedule with a home meet this coming Saturday, November 12 against Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 10:30 a.m. inside the Thompson Aquatic Center.