Anika Apostalon Sets Pool and Meet Record, San Diego State and UC Santa Barbara Win A3 Performance Invitational

San Diego State University swimming

Photo Credit: Stan Liu

MONTEREY PARK – Boosted by a pool and meet record from Anika Apostalon in the 100 free, the San Diego State women’s swimming and diving team successfully defended its title at the A3 Performance Invitational, just holding off UCLA for the team title by 36 points. Meanwhile, the UC Santa Barbara men extended their lead in the team standings to take home the men’s title.

San Diego State Press Release

San Diego State held off a late surge from UCLA as it successfully defended its championship at the A3 Performance Invitational Saturday evening at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Calif. The Aztecs ended the three-day meet, formerly known as the Arena Invitational, with 1166 points with UCLA finishing second at 1130. UC Santa Barbara was a distant third with 875 points.

Saturday evening’s finals session began with the 200 backstroke where Natilee Ruiz placed second with a mark of 1:57.79. McKenna Garfein took seventh in the championship final in a time of 2:00.89, the 10th-fastest time ever for an Aztec swimmer.

In the 1650 freestyle, Dana Michaels was SDSU’s top finisher as she captured third place in 16:54.14. Other point scorers in the event for the Aztecs included Caroline Mitchell (8th in 17:13.26), Cayla Jeter (9th in 17:14.42) and Cori Casper (23rd in 17:50.49).

San Diego State’s lone individual win of the night came in the 100 freestyle where Anika Apostalon won with a time of 48.04. That mark established new meet and pool records by .20 second. Chelsea Bailey (49.59) and Savannah Miller (50.79) finished third and sixth respectively in the championship final as well. In addition, Maddy Dalcamo (52.29) was fourth and Whitney Weisz (512.30) seventh in the consolation final. In the C final, Taylor Johnson placed third with a time of 51.66.

In the 200 breaststroke, SDSU scored points as Shannon Herman (2:20.18) and Laura Day (2:21.58) took third and fifth in the C final.

The 200 butterfly championship final saw Aztec freshman Summer Harrison capture sixth place in 2:00.69, a time that ranks as the third-fastest ever by an SDSU swimmer. Caroline Mitchell added points to the team total with an eighth-place finish in the consolation final with a mark of 2:12.19.

In the final event of the meet, San Diego State secured the Invitational title by winning the 400 freestyle relay. The foursome of Apostalon, Bailey, Miller and Weisz went 3:18.03 to break the pool record of 3:19.98 set by the Aztecs last season. The time was also the second-fastest in the event for an Aztec relay quartet.

San Diego State will next be in action when its hosts a triple dual swimming and diving meet against Air Force, Incarnate Word and UC San Diego on Dec. 29 at the Aztec Aquaplex.

UC Santa Barbara Press Release

After three long days at the A3 Performance Invitational, hosted by UC San Diego, the Gaucho men emerge on top and the women finish in third behind San Diego State University and UCLA. Stellar performances in the breaststroke, IM, and sprint freestyle events helped the Gauchos speed past their competition and put up some of the best times of the season.

Freshman Billy Mullis (1:46.36) earned the first UCSB points of the day, finishing second in the men’s 200 backstroke. Josh Smith (1:49.80) and Dylan Kubick (1:50.19) weren’t far behind him, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.

Kimmie Kreuzberger (51.05) sprinted her way into the championship finals heat of the women’s 50 freestyle, finishing seventh. Lauren Vosseler placed second in the consolation heat, coming in at a time of 51.02.

Wade Allen (44.02) proved his dominance in the sprint events once again with a win in the men’s 100 freestyle. Chase Lemley (45.24) finished third, Lukas Paulauskas (45.82) in sixth, and Chris Dotson (46.02) in eighth.

Katie Records (2:13.56) took the win in the women’s 200 breaststroke, with Jiana Vargem (2:14.75) finishing in third and Alyssa Shew (2:18.39) in seventh.

The men’s 200 butterfly championship heat was one to make every Gaucho proud as the Gauchos finished first, second, third, and fourth. Mickey Mowry (1:44.84) sealed the win, followed by Chris Nolan (1:46.66), Richard Davison (1:49.24), and Andy Lau (1:49.68).

The meet concluded with the 400 freestyle relays. The UCSB women finished in fifth and the men finished in second.

After totaling scores from all three days, the Gaucho men emerged with a tremendous victory of 1911 points. The second place finisher was over 650 points behind them. The women ended the Invite with 875 points.

Despite fierce competition, the Gauchos displayed incredible potential for the rest of the season as we continue into December. Catch the Gauchos at their next meet on December 4-6 at the Texas Invitational.

Results: A3 Performance Invitational, Day Three

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