Arizona State Teams Top British Columbia

TEMPE, Arizona, January 5. AFTER over a month off of action, Arizona State University's men's and women's swimming teams returned to Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex and each gained a decisive victory over the University of British Columbia, as the men won 117-67, and the women were victorious by a count of 137-49.

ASU's women's team showcased impressive performances by a variety of swimmers, headlined by junior Caitlin Andrew and sophomore Jen Beckberger, who each gained two individual victories and were also parts of the team's victorious 200 medley relay.

Swimming the 200 IM for the first time this season, Andrew bested the competition, touching in 2:04.51. The San Antonio, Texas native also recorded the meet's top 100 fly time, finishing in 55.12. Seniors Christine Creek and Amanda Gillespie added scoring performances in the 200 IM, as did senior Jill Kripps and freshman Ashton Aubry in the 100 fly.

Beckberger continued to solidify herself as ASU's top sprint freestyle swimmer, gaining victories in both the 50 free (23.43) and 100 free (51.33). As a team, the Sun Devils dominated both events, as freshman Jess Perazzo and senior Abra Armour rounded out the top three finishers in the 50 and 100 free, earning ASU scoring sweeps in both events. Perazzo had perhaps her finest meet of the season, recording a season-best finish in the 100 free (52.97), while finishing the 50 free in 24.00. Armour slightly came in third in the 50 free, touching in 24.05, while finishing second in the 100 free.

ASU's overall scoring effort was greatly aided by the team's dominance in both relays, as the Sun Devils placed the top two relays in both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. Senior Carissa Abe and freshman Sara McDaniel joined Andrew and Beckberger in the top 200 medley relay, while the team of Armour, junior Ellis Schieman, Abe and Lindsey Brown capped off the women's meet with a victory in the 200 free relay. Second-place scoring finishes were earned by the teams of freshman Mirela Kardasevic, Creek, Aubry and Perazzo in the 200 medley relay and Kardasevic, Gillespie, McDaniel and junior Ilene Lesch in the 200 free relay.

Junior Lindsey Brown earned her first individual event victory of the season, finishing the 200 free in 1:51.89, her fastest finish in that event this season. Juniors Ellis Schieman and Sarah Fischer added to the Sun Devils' scoring drive in that event as well.

Junior Sarah Fischer and senior Christine Creek each recorded first-place finishes in the 500 free and 100 breast, respectively. Fischer touched in 5:03.25, while Creek completed the event in 1:04.27. Lindsey Brown and junior Emlynn Tursick scored for ASU in the 500 free, while Sara McDaniel and sophomore Amy Konowalik finished second and third, respectively, in the 100 breast, giving the Sun Devils a sweep in the event.

Abe showcased ASU's top 100 back performance of the day, followed by scoring efforts submitted by Kardasevic and sophomore Rikka Brunner, who recorded her best 100 backstroke time of the year.

The men showcased perhaps their most well-rounded effort of the season, as four Sun Devils gained individual victories, for a total of six overall first-place individual finishes, in addition to the team's victories in the 200 medley and 200 free relays.

Junior CJ Nuess earned victories in the 200 IM (1:52.55) and 100 breast (57.47), while placing second in the 500 free (4:29.88).

Steve Neuwert added yet another impressive performance swimming freestyle, taking first in the 50 free, touching in 20.40, the fastest in that event by a Sun Devil this season. The junior and Perth, Australia native also anchored ASU's event-winning 200 medley and 200 free relays.

Freshman Ante Cvitkovic added to ASU's scoring effort in a significant manner, claiming a victory in the 100 back (49.95) and scored a third-place finish in the 50 free. Cvitkovic also swam the backstroke leg of the team's victorious 200 medley relay. The Split, Croatia native has been the most consistent backstroke swimmer in the Sun Devils' lineup, having earlier this season recorded ASU's fifth- and sixth-best times in school history in the 200 and 100 back, respectively.

Joining Cvitkovic and Neuwert in the 200 medley relay lineup were sophomores Gal Nevo and Sean Boyle, as the group achieved the fastest time of the season in the event, ultimately touching in 1:32.28.

Boyle contributed an individual victory to the overall score, topping the field in the 100 fly (50.11), while junior John Dwelley and freshman Magnus Kjellberg added scoring finishes in the event. Boyle also finished third in the 200 free, behind teammate Lucas Azevedo's second-place finish.

All-American junior Lucas Azevedo was solid as expected, finishing in the top three in the 200 free and 100 free, while leading off ASU's 200 free relay.

Sophomore Mohammed Madwa helped ASU's scoring push, recording a second-place, season-best time in the 100 free (46.46), while scoring in the 200 free and contributing as a member of the 200 free relay.

Adding scoring efforts in the 200 IM were sophomore Gal Nevo and freshman Max Laney, as did freshman Cade Judkins in the 50 free and freshman Will Weeks in the 100 breast. Laney and Nevo posted additional scoring finishes in the 100 back and 100 breast, respectively. The efforts of Nevo and Weeks, in addition to those of CJ Nuess, allowed ASU to sweep the top three finishes in the 100 breast.

ASU also welcomed freshman Brian Anderson into the fold, competing for the first time after recovering from an early-season injury. The Oro Valley, Ariz. native swam in the 50 and 100 free, as well as the 200 free relay.

The Sun Devil men and women will continue a competitive weekend Saturday, as the women will compete against Oregon State, and the men against California and Michigan.

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