Flight Delay and Short Warmup Hinders Arizona in Loss to California

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold

By Sarah Lloyd, Swimming World College Intern

After a flight delay en route and a short 10-minute warmup, the Arizona Wildcats fell to the California Golden Bears in an annual dual meet on Friday. The Wildcats fought hard, but the Golden Bears ultimately triumphed on both sides of the meet.

Men’s Meet:

California got off to a quick start with a victory in the 400 medley relay. A team of Ryan Murphy, Josh Prenot, Long Gutierrez, and Justin Lynch touched with a time of 3:10.63. Arizona’s team of Chatham Dobbs, Gage Crosby, Mathias Oh, and Renny Richmond were third in the event with a time of 3:21.11. California freshman Nick Norman took the 1000 free with a blistering time of 9:11.60 and was followed by Arizona junior Ty Fowler (9:14.02). California junior Gutierrez then took the 200 free (1:35.60) and was followed by teammates senior Trent Williams (1:37.60) and sophomore Kyle Coan (1:39.70). The 100 back was won by California senior Jacob Pebley (48.51), who was followed by Arizona freshman Dobbs (49.74).

California then swept the 100 breast with senior Prenot winning the event with a time of 54.32. Sophomore Connor Hoppe was second (54.56), while the junior Hunter Cobleigh rounded out the podium with a time of 56.66. Another sweep for the Golden Bears happened in the 200 fly, which was won by the sophomore Lynch (1:46.73). He was followed by two freshmen, Andrew Seliskar (1:47.06) and Ken Takahashi (1:50.25). Lynch and Seliskar went 1-2 in the 50, going 19.84 and 20.22, respectively. Arizona’s Richmond came in third (20.60).

California’s Tyler Messerschmidt, a junior, won the 100 free (45.07), while Arizona’s Richmond was second (45.88). Golden Bear teammates Murphy, Pebley, and sophomore Connor Green swept the 200 back, after which Seliskar, Cobleigh, and Carson Sand swept the 200 breast. California sophomore Ryan Cao took the 500 free (4:31.39), just a second ahead of Arizona’s Fowler (4:32.49). Arizona’s sophomore Moose Skjaerpe won the 100 fly (50.28), while Wildcat sophomore Nick Thorne took the 200 IM (1:54.05).

Arizona’s senior diver Rafael Quintero took both boards, followed by senior teammate Dominic Ricotta. An Arizona team of Richmond, Chad Idensohn, Dobbs, and JP Beach finished the meet with a victory in the 200 free relay (1:22.16). The final score of the meet ended with the No. 2 California men beating the No. 15 Arizona men 164.5-118.5.

Women’s Meet:

The women’s meet was not too different from the men’s meet, as the No. 7 California women edged out the No. 11 Arizona women. The Arizona women started out strong with a victory in the 400 medley relay–a team of Annie Ochitwa, Emma Schoettmer, Mackenzie Rumrill, and Katrina Kanopka took the event with a time of 3:37.56. The California team of Rachel Bootsma, Kathleen Baker, Noemie Thomas, and Rachael Acker were second with a time of 3:38.71. California junior Celia Li took the 1000 free (10:07.19), ahead of Arizona’s freshmen Sarah Shimura (10:09.15) and Emma McCarthy (10:09.37).

The California women swept the 200 free, led by freshman Amy Bilquist and rounded out by seniors Liz Pelton (1:48.24) and Acker (1:48.88). The 100 back was won by California freshman Baker (53.64), while Arizona freshmen Ochitwa (53.92) and Taylor Garcia (54.46) took second and third. California junior Maria Garcia Urzainqui edged out Arizona’s senior Schoettmer for a win in the 100 breast. Garcia Urzainqui was a 1:03.05, while Schoettmer was a 1:03.19.

Two more California sweeps followed. Led by senior Kelly Naze (1:57.89) and rounded out by Thomas (1:58.81) and Li (2:00.27), they took the 200 fly. Junior Farida Osman won the 50 free (22.81) and was followed by Bilquist (23.04) and sophomore Valerie Hull (23.20). Bilquist later took the 100 free (49.85). Baker joined in for a second individual win with a victory in the 200 back (1:54.83), while Arizona’s Schoettmer came back to win the 200 breast (2:15.92).

Arizona’s Shimura took the 500 free (4:52.85), and California’s Thomas went a 52.80 to win the 100 fly. Baker recorded a hat trick with a win in the 200 IM (1:58.77) and the California team of Hull, Bootsma, Bilquist, and Osman took the 200 free relay with a winning time of 1:31.05.

Arizona’s junior diver Sally Hackett won the 3-meter board, while California’s freshman Phoebe LaMay took the 1-meter. The final score of the meet was 185-114.

Both of these top-25 ranked Pac-12 teams will compete again on Saturday January 23 when California takes on Arizona State and Arizona takes on Stanford.

Full results:
2016 Arizona vs. California Women – Results
2016 Arizona vs. California Men – Results

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Rachel Jordan

8 years ago

Wow, Ryan Murphy is over the top, what an impressive swimmer and person.