This Week in WAC Swimming and Diving - Oct. 9
This Week in WAC Swimming and Diving - Oct. 9
MEN'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
CSU Bakersfield's Antonio Milin and Grand Canyon's Pietro Hufnagel Toscani have been named Western Athletic Conference Men's Swimmer and Diver of the Week, respectively, for Sept. 30-Oct. 7.
Milin, a sophomore from Zadar, Croatia, competed alongside swimmers from Southern California and Virginia at the USC Trojan Swim Invite where he placed in the top seven in the three events he swam in. His best finish came as he placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke (54.96). He also finished seventh in both the 200 individual medley (1:50.60) and 200 breast (2:03.30). Milin currently holds the fastest times in the conference for all three events.
Toscani, a senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, started his senior season off with a pair of top two finishes at the TYR Fall Classic in Miami. The diver placed first in the 1-meter springboard event with a score of 331.90, an NCAA Zone Championships qualifying score. He also placed second in the 3-meter springboard event with a score of 322.70. Toscani has the top two scores in both events among conference members.
WOMEN'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
CSU Bakersfield's Mikayla Popham and NM State's Italia Aranzabal have been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Swimmer and Diver of the Week, respectively, for Sept. 30-Oct. 7.
Popham, a freshman from Sunshine Coast, Australia, began her college career with an impressive showing at the USC Trojan Swim Invite as she competed in four individual events and a team relay. She finished in the top-10 in three of her individual events as she competed with swimmers from the likes of Southern California and Virginia. The Australian posted the season's fastest times among the conference in the 500 freestyle (4:53.07), 100 freestyle (50.39) and 200 freestyle (1:48.89). Popham's lead leg of the 200 freestyle relay is also the conference's fastest time in the 50 free thus far (23.20).
Aranzabal, a freshman from Mexico City, Mexico, dominated in both the 3-meter and 1-meter diving events as the Aggies hosted Northern Colorado. She currently has the conference's top score in the 3-meter diving event (264.60) and 1-meter diving event (239.85).
OTHER ATHLETES OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Other men's swimmer nominees: Grand Canyon's Mikhail Lyubaviskiy finished in the top seven in the 500 freestyle (4:37.63), 400 individual medley (4:09.60) and 200 butterfly (1:54.60) at the TYR Fall Classic... Mitchell Hovis of Wyoming helped account for a combined 34 points on the four relays he swam in at the DU Relays.
Other women's swimmer nominee: Grand Canyon's Kelsey Andrusak posted the conference's second-fastest time in the 400 individual medley (4:33.39) as she competed at the TYR Fall Classic... NM State's Anabel Ivanov picked up a first-place finish in the 100 back (58.70) in the Aggies opening meet of the season.
Other men's diver nominee: Air Force's Brett Jenkins finished 5th in the 3-meter diving event at the Intermountain Shootout with a score of 250.80.
Other women's diver nominee: Grand Canyon's Sara Lameiro Castellanos finished in the top-six in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events at the TYR Fall Classic in Miami.
AIR FORCE
The Air Force men's team began 2019 at the Intermountain Shootout where they defeated host Colorado Mesa, 264-129, while falling to BYU, 215-177. The Falcons managed seven first-place finishes on the weekend including gold in the 200 medley relay (1:32.07). Freshman Wen Zhang captured the win in the 200 freestyle (1:41.16), out touching BYU's Javier Nicolas to win by two-tenths of a second. Isaac Gwin took first in the 100 back (50.12), while Zach Nelson, Aaron Pang and Gwin swept the podium in the 100 IM. Jenkins was the Falcon's top diver as he finished sixth in the 1-meter diving event (249.50) and fifth in the 3-meter event (250.80). Sophomore Andrew Limpert took first in the 200 butterfly (1:51.62) and Gabriel Bartolomei was victorious in the 200 back (1:51.62). The Falcons wrapped up the weekend with a first-place finish in the 400 free relay.
CSU BAKERSFIELD
CSU Bakersfield's men's team traveled to Los Angeles to compete in the USC Trojan Invite. Junior Loren Gillilan started his 2019 campaign strong as he finished fourth in the 100 butterfly (47.85), posting the fastest time in the conference. Milin finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (56.11) while Ryan Brimer recorded his first dual meet with a time under 1:40 in the 200 free (1:39.94). Kris Rogic and Richie Campbell led off for the CSU Bakersfield 200 free relay team as the finished 6th (1:23.32).
Record-setting individual times reflected a strong performance on the women's side. Autumn D'Arcy posted a school record as she finished fourth in the 200 butterfly (1:59.37). Mikayla Popham posted a CSUB Top 5 time in the 100 free (50.39) while Maya Valdoria posted the fifth-fastest time in school history in the 200 fly (2:05.14). Jayssie Haynes had a strong performance as well as she posted a time of 4:29.57 in the 400 individual medley.
GRAND CANYON
The Grand Canyon men's team placed fourth at the TYR Fall Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic. The Lopes saw top competition as they swam against teams from LSU, Pitt, George Washington and Army among others. The men came away with bronze in the 200 free relay while Griffin McKean also came in third in the 200 free (1:40.88). GCU's top dive came from Toscani as he finished first in the 1-meter diving event with an NCAA Zone Championships qualifying score of 331.90.
The Lopes women's team fought hard but finished in eighth among a stacked field. Andrusak finished third in the 500 free as she posted a solid time of 5:04.02 and fourth in the 200 fly (2:06.80). Meanwhile, freshman Lameiro Castellanos finished in the top-six in both the 1-meter (230.55) and 3-meter (260.70) diving events.
IDAHO
The University of Idaho women's team was one of two conference teams to compete in the month of September as they participated in the Washington State Relays and hosted Sad Diego State. At the WSU Relays, the team finished fourth as sophomore Katie Hale highlighted a third-place finish in the 3x50-yard butterfly and a fourth-place finish in the 3x50-yard backstroke. Alexa Tenecyk led off the Vandals' 800 free relay with a 1:58.42 split as the team finished in the sixth spot.
Idaho then battled with San Diego State, losing a close meet 71-76. Anchored by a 24.30 50 free time from Natalie Crocker, the Vandals 200 free relay team bested the Aztecs. Hale tacked on a second place finish in the 50-yard backstroke (26.79). Senior Aimee Iwamoto added two more second-place finishes in the 50 breast (29.84) and 100 IM (1:00.48). Brianna Lucien also notched a silver finish in the 500 freestyle (5:15.94).
NM STATE
The Aggies women's team hosted fellow conference member Northern Colorado to kick off their season. NM State fell to the Bears 162-138 in the team's conference opener. Neza Kocjian picked up the first win for the Aggies in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:55.97 while Ivanov added another first-place finish in the 100 back (58.70). Freshman Rachel Ponte collected her first win in the 100 fly with a time of 57.48 as she out-touched Northern Colorado's Madelyn Moore. The Aggies top diving performance came from Aranzabal as she picked up wins in the 1-meter (239.85) and 3-meter (264.60) diving events.
NORTHERN COLORADO
Northern Colorado saw their first action as they traveled to Laramie, Wyo. to face the Cowgirls of Wyoming. The Bears were bested by Wyoming 176.5-123.5 in both schools season opener. UNC captured seven first-place finishes as freshmen got their first glimpse of college action. Sophomore Maddy Moore picked up a win in the 100 back (58.43) and 100 free (52.40). Teammate Maria Heymans also managed two golds as she won the 100 and 200 breast with times of 1:05.71 and 2:25.62, respectively. Harwood, N.D., native Hallie Peterson took home the win in the 200 fly with a time of 2:10.05.
The Bears then opened their conference season on the road in a battle with NM State. The Bears swam to victory as they defeated the Aggies 162-138. UNC dominated the meet, picking up first-place finishes in 10 of the 15 events. The Bears went one-two-three in the 1000 free led by Anna Austin with a time of 10:47.74. They also swept the 200 fly with Paula Núñez Blázquez winning the event with a time of 2:07.91. Núñez Blázquez also managed to reach the wall first in the 200 back (2:07.05). Heymans also picked up gold finishes as she won in the 100 and 200 breast, recording times of 1:04.99 and 2:22.60, respectively.
WYOMING
The Wyoming men's team began their season in Denver as they competed at the Denver Relays. With a combined 322 points the team finished in second place behind host school Denver. The all-freshman team of Robert Mitchell, Cameron Murphy and Thomas Diaz picked up the win for the Cowboys in the 3x500 freestyle event (14:15.25). Later in the meet, PJ Musser, James Bouda and Brayden Love finished with the top time in the 3x100 butterfly (2:30.52).