UC Santa Barbara Sweeps Wyoming

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan 11. BOTH the University of Wyoming men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams lost to UC Santa Barbara in a Friday afternoon dual at UCSB Pool, in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The Gauchos handed the Cowboys their first dual loss of the season, 127-67, sending Wyoming’s dual record to 4-1.

The Cowboys swam to event victories in four of 11 events including the 400 medley relay. Ethan Maclean, Scott Usher, Gene Birks and Grant Kritzinger swam a top-time of 3:26.31 in the event. Individually, Birks led the way for Wyoming winning both the 100 and 200 freestyle events. He swam to a time of 46.97 in the 100 and 1:42.13 in the 200. Usher dominated the 200 breaststroke swimming to a time of 2:02.66, more than six seconds faster than the second place finisher.

The Cowgirls fell to the Gauchos 114-88, dropping their overall dual record to 2-3. The Cowgirls also swam to first place finishes in four of 11 events including the 400 freestyle relay. In that event, Katie Haywood, Tamara Lehnertz, Katie Bigger and Heidi Thorson swam to a time of 3:34.12. Haywood also won the 100 freestyle with a time of 53.91. Alex Leziy-Miller won the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:25.02 and Lauren Beard won the 200 IM in a time of 2:11.01.

"I thought that we were very rusty after not swimming a meet in six weeks," said UW head coach Tom Johnson. "We need to work on the little things like our turns and starts. I am disappointed in the way we swam today and we have to improve and swim better in the future.

"On a positive note, I am very pleased with the way Katie (Haywood) swam. Alex (Leziy-Miller had a great 200 breaststroke and Lauren (Beard) also had a great meet."

The men’s and women’s diving team also competed today but were not scored because UCSB doesn’t have a diving team.

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