Maddie Myers Doubles, Leads DU Pioneers Over Missouri State And Kansas

Photo Credit: Denver Athletics

LAWRENCE – University of Denver freshman Maddie Myers won two individual events today as the Pioneers completed a two-day sweep of Kansas and Missouri State today at Robinson Natatorium in Lawrence, Kan.

Denver Press Release

The University of Denver swimming and diving squads defeated Kansas (women only) and Missouri State on Saturday in the final day of competition at Robinson Natatorium. The DU women topped Kansas 204 – 148 and Missouri State 278.5 – 73.5. The men’s team finished the final day of competition with 190.5 points to Missouri State’s 162.5.

“We finished well today,” head coach Brian Schrader said. “Our coaching staff was enthused about our efforts and our improvements with some technical things we have been trying to emphasize. I think we beat two strong teams today. Maddie Myers had a great meet, and her efforts were mirrored by Sam Corea, Drew Matthews, and Johanna Roas. Our men had a good day as well led by Dylan Bunch and Ray Bornman. Willy Van Dehy also gave us one of his best dual meets in his career.”

Freshman Maddie Myers (Arvada, Colo.) finished with wins in the 400 IM (4:21.03) and 200 breaststroke (2:22.42). Myers also placed second in the 500 freestyle (5:01.58). 2014 Summit League Swimmer of the Year Samantha Corea (Vancouver, British Columbia) touched first and set the pool record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:58.31. Overall, Corea accomplished two individual wins and two pool records, and was part of the winning 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, and 200 medley relays. Senior Drew Matthews (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Can.) took first in the 100 butterfly (56.64), while sophomore Johanna Roas (Munich, Germany) turned in the best time in the 100 freestyle (51.32).

Diver Dana Gau (Waukesha, Wis.) placed fourth overall in the 1-meter with a total of 231.05 points, while sophomore Larissa Grammer (Olathe, Colo.) earned a sixth place finish with a total of 225.75 points.

2014 Summit League Men’s Swimmer of the Year Dylan Bunch (Boulder City, Nev.) earned a win in the 500 freestyle (4:28.96). Freshman Ray Bornman (Mackay, Queensland) took first in the 100 freestyle (45.06). Senior Willy Van Dehy (Boulder, Colo.) stood out on the men’s 200 freestyle relay, which took second with a time of 1:23.88, by having the fastest split of 20.68 among his teammates. Van Dehy and Bornman took first and second place in the100 freestyle. Van Dehy got second with a time of 46.05, while Bornman touched first with a time of 45.06.

Senior Ross Edfort (Somerset, N.J.) led the University of Denver’s men’s diving team, took first in today’s event the 1-meter with 335.05 points. Freshman Ryan Church (Riverwoods, Ill.) took third in the 1-meter, earning 234.45 points, and Simon Latimer (Westminster, Colo.) took fifth with 216.10 points.

Up next for Denver, the Pioneers will return to El Pomar Natatorium on Oct. 30 to take on Wyoming. Diving will begin at 4 p.m. MT, followed by swimming events at 5 p.m.

Kansas Press Release

Standout swims by Haley Molden and Deanna Marks helped Kansas defeat Missouri State, 277-75, but couldn’t lift the Jayhawks past Denver, 204-138, on the final day of a double dual at Robinson Natatorium Saturday. A total of eight pool records fell during the meet, and the Kansas recognized seniors Marks and Caroline Patterson.

To begin the meet, the team introduced the senior class, swimming their final first home meet in Robinson Natatorium.

“Deanna and Caroline have meant so much to the program,” Kansas head coach Clark Campbell said. “They’re a small class but they’re mighty. Caroline is one of the best leaders that I’ve ever had the privilege of working with and Deanna is one of the best student-athletes that I’ve ever worked with. She’s had so many academic awards being a mechanical engineering and business administration double-major; she is awesome to work with. They’ve meant a lot to the team in their years here.”

After a tough Friday session, the girls came back strong for the 200-yard medley relay on Saturday with the Kansas A relay placing second with a time of 1:36.11 behind the University of Denver. The men of Missouri State lit up the pool and broke yet another pool record, the fifth of the meet. The team of Paul Le, Isaac Springer, Will Brand and Uvis Kalnins went a time of 1:32.30. Individually, Kalnins went on to break the 400-yard individual medley pool record in a time of 3:57.16 while Le shattered the 200-yard backstroke pool record in a time of 1:45.54.

Chelsie Miller and Maddie Myers of Denver battled it out in a close 400 IM race. Myers pulled ahead in the breaststroke portion of the race and finished ahead of Miller, who placed second overall with a time of 4:22.19. Not far behind her was Sammie Schurig, swimming a time of 4:35.75 for fourth overall. In the first heat of the race, Madison Straight had an early lead against the competition, finishing first in her heat with a time of 4:33.22, putting her in third place overall.

Coming off a great 200-yard freestyle swim from Friday, Molden had another standout swim in the 100-yard freestyle when she swam a time of 51.97 and placed second overall. Freshman Hannah Driscoll also had a strong swim of 52.64 placing third.

“My goal was just to go faster than my last meet,” Molden said. “I did, and I was really excited. My goal was to go 1:52 or faster in my 200 and 52 or faster in my 100. That’s what I did so I’m really happy with it.”

Sam Corea from the University of Denver took down the Robinson 100-yard backstroke record Friday and came back on Saturday to take down the 200. The University of Denver senior swam a time of 1:58.31 while Kansas sophomore Yulduz Kuchkarova swam into second with a time of 2:04.26.

Marks, a senior originally from Plano, Texas, felt the energy from the crowded natatorium and swam the 100-yard butterfly in 56.99, placing her third overall with a new best in-season time. Campbell’s goal for the girls was to stay within two seconds of their best 100 times, which Marks accomplished.

“It’s been a really exciting day, that’s for sure,” Marks said. “Starting off with the whole senior celebration, I really just wanted to honor my team and my family and swim well. We did do well; we performed amazingly for the first home meet of the season, so I’m really proud of us.”

Miller returned for the 500-yard freestyle and took home her first win for the day in a final time of 5:00.42. Sophomore Lindsay Manning was not far behind, finishing with 5:03.65 in third place.

In the diving well, coach Brian Pritt and the team came back from a challenging Friday on the three-meter with Graylyn Jones, Sydney Power and Nadia Khechfe placing first, second and third on the one-meter.

After finishing fourth and fifth overall in the 100-meter breaststroke, the Pocisk sisters returned on Saturday for the 200-yard breaststroke placing third and fourth. Gretchen Pocisk swam a time of 2:24.81 and Lydia Pocisk swam a time of 2:25.99, followed by Chelsie Miller in a time of 2:26.85 placing fifth overall.

In the final event of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Kansas B team went neck and neck with Denver B and Missouri State A. Before finishing in fifth, the Kansas A relay team was second in a time of 3:30.53, thanks in part to a strong anchor by Marks, splitting a time of 51.77.

“We had a really good second day,” Campbell said. “I was really happy for the team even though the results didn’t go in our favor team-wise, but swimming-wise we are really happy with how we competed and how the divers dove today. We’re much further along now than we were in October of last year, so that’s pretty exciting.”

Campbell and the team look forward to next weekend when they take on TCU and North Dakota in Robinson Natatorium Saturday, November 1, at noon.

Missouri State Press Release

The Missouri State swimming and diving teams concluded the Kansas Double Dual on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Robinson Natatorium. The men’s team was topped by Denver 190.50-162.50, while the Bears’ women’s side was defeated by Denver and Kansas, 278.50-73.50 and 277.00-75.00, respectively.

“Both teams were really tested this weekend against Kansas and Denver,” head coach Dave Collins said. “It was a great opportunity for us to continue to gain race experience in what is a very busy month. Our goal heading into October was to become better racers and evaluate ways to improve. Experiences like this weekend will help us as we move towards the Louisville Invite in November.”

After setting three pool records in the first part of their dual against Denver on Friday, the Bears’ men’s team broke three more on Saturday.
The 200 free relay team of Paul Le, Uvis Kalnins, Caleb Schuermann and Isaac McKnight combined to break the pool record – previously set by Texas A&M in 2003 – to finish in a time of 1:22.71.

Le and Kalnins each broke Robinson Natatorium records for the second consecutive day. Le set a season-best mark in the 200 back (1:45.11), while also topping Texas A&M’s Riley James’ 1998 top-time by over four seconds. Kalnins swam the 400 IM in a time of 3:57.16, besting Matt Frentsos of Missouri’s record time set in 1984.

“It was neat to see the men attack the KU pool record board,” Collins said. “Anytime you can get your name on the wall it’s special. There have not been very many men’s meets in that pool since they eliminated the men’s program, so many of the records have stood for awhile.”

The men’s side had multiple performances that kept the dual against the Pioneers interesting until the end.

Le, Kalnins, McKnight and Will Brand set a season-best time in the 400 free relay for MSU, finishing in a time of 3:02.26 for a first-place finish.

“It was fun to be able to step up and help out on the relays,” Will Brand said. “After a hard week of training I feel like we all did well and gave it our all.”

Isaac Springer won the 200 breast (2:06.61) and was followed by Uldis Tazans (2:07.25) who placed third. McKnight earned third-place honors in the 100 free (46.62), Garrett Nevels and Elijah Swaim went 2-4 for the Bears in 1-meter diving, Matthew Wilson, Brand and Preston Selby went 3-4-5 in the 100 fly and Max Pratt swam a season-best 5:01.17 in the 500 free.

“This weekend against Denver was an excellent opportunity for us as a team to battle against a former Sun-Belt conference rival,” Isaac Springer said. “Many of the races came down to the touch and both teams continued to battle and push each other. In the end, the drive to win close races made for a fast meet and some impressive times.”

In races against both Kansas and Denver, the women’s swimming and diving team had 2014-15 bests eclipsed in Saturday’s action.

To start the day, the 200 free relay team of Kate Gately, Megan Holthoff, Anna Bump and Shannon Myer put up a 1:38.76 for a third-place finish. The Bears also made a top mark for the year in the 400 free relay (3:36.92) behind Ibby Simcox, Sydney Zupan, Bump and Myer, while Heather Snyder swam her best time of the season in the 500 free (5:15.90).

“It was a fun weekend to race with two fast teams we’ve never competed against before,” Megan Holthoff said. “Although there were some off races, the team still remains positive and focused on preparing for our mid-season invitational coming next month, along with performances at the conference championship.”

Other highlights for the Bears included Dora Kiss finishing fourth in the 500 free (5:04.44) and Zupan earning third in the 200 back (2:05.20).

“We knew coming into the meet against Denver and Kansas that we would be up against some fast competition,” sophomore CeCe Etter said. “However, the men’s and women’s team did a really good job racing and cheering each other on to put some fast times on the board.”

The Missouri State swimming and diving teams will next head to Columbia for a dual against Missouri at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. The Louisville Invite will follow that for the Bears, which begins on Nov. 21.

Results: Denver, Missouri State vs. Kansas, Day Two 

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