Wyoming Sweeps University of Denver

LARAMIE, Wyo., November 16, THE University of Wyoming swimming and diving team swept the University of Denver, Saturday afternoon in Denver, with the Cowgirls winning 134-106 and the Cowboys winning 162-75.

The Cowgirls improved their overall dual record to 2-1 with the win, despite winning only five of 13 events on the day. Saara Haapanen led the way for Wyoming winning both the one and three meter diving boards. Her score of 252.50 was first on the 1 meter board with other Cowgirls filling all four top spots. The Cowgirl divers also took the top four spots on the 3 meter board with Haapanen winning with a score of 243.90.

The three other Cowgirl event victories came from Heidi Thorson, Lauren Beard and Ashley Mallett. Thorson won the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.65, Beard won the 200 IM in a time of 2:12.80 and Mallet won the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:11.86.

On the men’s side of the dual, the Cowboys swam to event victories in ten of 13 events including both relays. The win improves their overall dual meet record to 4-0.

The Cowboys started things off with a win in the 400 medley relay when Ethan Maclean, Scott Usher, Gene Birks and Grant Kritzinger swam to a time of 3:25.86. The 400 freestyle relay also went to the Cowboys with Birks, Kritzinger, Beau Taylor and Bryce Perica swimming a time of 3:11.01.

Individually, the Cowboys were led by Galen Gough who came away with two event victories. He started things off with a win in the 200 IM with a time of 1:57.44 and his time of 1:53.32 was good for the win in the 200 butterfly. Adam Miller also won both the one and three meter diving boards with scores of 277.30 (1-meter) and 275.65 (3-meter).

Birks, Kritzinger, Maclean and Usher also each came awaywith an event victory. Birks won the 200 freestyle in atime of 1:44.19, Kritzinger won the 50 freestyle in 21.97, Maclean won the 200 backstroke in a time of 1:55.87 and Usher won the 200 breaststroke in 2:03.86.

The men set three pool records on the day: in the 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and the 400 medley relay. Usher’s time of 2:03.86 set a new 200 breaststroke record while Gough’s 200 butterfly time of 1:53.32 and the 400 medley relay time of 3:25.86 were also new pool records.

“We didn’t swim as well as we could have but I am proud of the kids for battling through and coming away with the win,” said UW head coach Tom Johnson. “There is definitely room for improvement but that is how it should be this early in the season.”

Both the Cowboys and Cowgirls will return to action next weekend as the women travel to San Diego State for a MWC dual and the men travel to the Purdue University Invite. Start time is set for noon in San Diego while the PurdueInvite will run Friday through Sunday in West Lafayette,Ind.

“Next week will be a big test for both teams,” addedJohnson. “The women will have a tough dual with San Diego, who was picked just behind us in the preseason MWC poll, and the men are really excited to see what they can do at a big time meet in Purdue.”

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