Senior Classes Recognized as Dual Meet Season Wraps Up

By Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, January 24. THIS weekend, dozens of teams across the country competed in their final dual meets before many conference championships get underway in February, and most swimmers took full advantage of their final opportunities to race by posting some sizzling performances. Here are a few highlights from the past three days of competition.

Friday evening featured several intriguing rivalries between top teams, as Auburn hosted Florida and Stanford traveled to Arizona. Auburn continued its string of recent upsets by knocking off both the Florida men (167-133) and women (165-135). Auburn seniors Adam Brown (50 free, 19.80 and 100 free, 43.40) and Adam Klein (100 breast, 54.46 and 200 breast, 1:58.33) each won two events apiece to lead the men's team, while freshman Emily Bos won the 100 (54.20) and 200 (1:56.33) back to lead the women. Elizabeth Beisel (1000 free, 9:50.00 and 200 IM, 1:59.92) and Jamie Bohunicky (200 free, 1:47.10 and 500 free, 4:46. 89) were the only double-event winners for Florida.

Meanwhile, Stanford flexed its muscles against Arizona, winning both the women's (178-114) and men's (155-143) dual meets in Tucson. Liz Smith won three events for the Cardinal, including the 100 breast (1:02.28), 200 breast (2:12.68) and 400 IM (4:16.43). Fellow senior Kate Dwelley picked up two victories in the 100 (49.44) and 200 free (1:46.91), while teammate Andie Taylor touched first in the 200 fly (1:58.26) and 500 free (4:46.76). On the men's side, Alex Coville (50 free, 20.18 and 100 free, 44.51), Chad LaTourette (1000 free, 9:14.67 and 500 free, 4:31.71) and Austin Staab (200 free, 1:37.76 and 100 fly, 47.93) each contributed two wins.

The Texas A&M Aggies honored their senior class by beating LSU at home on Saturday. Freshman breaststroke sensation Breeja Larson won both the 100 (1:00.80) and 200 (2:13.47) breast at the meet, while teammate Maureen McLaine captured the 1000 free (9:52.09) and 500 free (4:51.44). LSU's Jane Trepp continued her dominance of the 50 free, winning that event in 22.46 and the 100 fly later on in 53.72. Omar Enriquez (1000 free and 500 free) and Bryan Snowden (100 and 200 breast) also won two events for the Aggies, while Hannes Heyl (50 free and 100 fly) earned two individual victories for the Tigers.

In a much-anticipated matchup between two of the top teams in the SEC, Georgia emerged victorious over Tennessee on Saturday. Lady Vols Kelsey Floyd (100 fly, 53.55 and 200 fly, 1:55.50) and Lindsay Gendron (200 free, 1:45.35 and 500 free, 4:44.46) each won two events, while Georgia's Melanie Margalis (100 breast, 1:01.95 and 200 breast, 2:14.49) led the Bulldogs with two first-place finishes.

California continued its trip through the Southwest with a stop in Tucson on Saturday afternoon for a showdown with the Arizona Wildcats. Both the Cal women's team (165.6-134.5) and men's team (174.5-123.5) came out ahead as the meet concluded. Several swimmers from both schools recorded multiple victories, including Alyssa Anderson (1000 free and 500 free), Matt Barber (1000 free, 500 free), Tom Shields (200 free, 200 fly, 100 fly), Caitlin Leverenz (100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM) and Nathan Adrian (50 free, 100 free).

In Division II action, Missouri S&T edged Truman State, 119-81, on Friday evening. Andrew Schranck (200 free, 200 back), Jeff Enge (200 IM), Danny Murphy (200 fly), Jacob Dole (50 free) and Sean Deegan (100 free) each posted wins for the Miners.

In Division III, Emory inched closer to what could be a second consecutive national championship with wins over Darton and the Savannah College of Art and Design on Saturday. For the women, Anne Culpepper (1650 free, 17:36.12), Jennifer Pak (200 free, 1:53.68), Sadie Nennig (100 back, 58.12), April Whitley (100 breast, 1:06.31) and Claire Pavlak (50 free, 23.75) recorded B-cuts, while Patrick Augustyn (200 fly, 1:52.96) posted a B-cut for the men.

Kenyon hosted a two-day quad meet on Friday and Saturday and posted several more B-cuts in finishing third on the women's side and second on the men's side. Lauren Brady (100 fly), Anna Connolly (100 free), Kati Meirs (400 IM) swam B-cuts in their respective events, while the highlight of the men's meet was Collin Ohning's first place finish in the 100 breast (57.30).

For results from all of the meets this weekend, check out the College Channel.

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