Pac-12 Weekly Analysis: Huge Victory for USC Women

USC's Tatum Wade. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Dan D’Addona.

It is an under-the-radar rivalry that is growing with each year.

USC and Wisconsin aren’t in the same conference, or even the same part of the country. But their rivalry has grown every year since their meet at USC began six years ago.

Both programs are two of the nation’s best, and a meet against competition seen only at the NCAA meet is a good experience for both teams no matter what the outcome of the dual is.

But the USC women have to bee feeling good after holding off the Badgers 137-120. The Trojans are ranked No. 8 and the Badgers are No. 14, but there are a lot of similarities to these teams.

USC is looking to close the gap on Stanford and Cal in the Pac-12 and this meet proved they are going to hang in there. The Trojans might not overtake those two conference rivals, but will make a run at being a top five team at the NCAA championships.

Meanwhile the No. 16 USC men faced the No. 19 Badgers and what was supposed to be a meet that came down to the wire simply didn’t because USC had such a good meet, winning 143-114.

Here is a look at some of the big swims:

Freshman Louise Hansson and sophomore Riley Scott won twice each and sophomore Patrick Mulcare won three times to lead the Trojans.

Sophomores Hanni Leach and Scott, Hansson and senior Anika Apostalon won the opening 400 medley relay in 3:37.01 while USC also claimed the men’s race as junior Ralf Tribuntsov, sophomore Carsten Vissering and juniors Dylan Carter and Santo Condorelli won in 3:14.67.

USC freshman Becca Mann and Wisconsin’s Cierra Runge battled throughout the 1,000 free and Runge, the transfer from Cal, won in 9:48.49, holding off Mann’s 9:49.74. Wisconsin’s Matt Hutchins took command of the men’s 1,000 and won in 9:05.61.

Hannson won the 200 free in 1:45.41 while fellow freshman Tatum Wade (1:46.60) was second. In the men’s race, Mulcare, won in 1:37.39.

Leach won the women’s 100yback in 53.63. Tribuntsov (46.64) won the men’s 100 back.

Scott (1:00.90) won the women’s 100 breast while senior Ridge Altman (55.99), won the men’s race.

Sophomore Maddie Wright continued her strong work in the 200 fly to win her first 2017 race with a 1:57. Senior Michael Domagala won the men’s 200 fly in 1:48.50.

Wisconsin’s Chase Kinney (22.54) held off a charging Apostalon (22.85) to capture the women’s 50 free. Carter dominated the men’s sprint in 19.69.

Apostalon out-touched Kinney, 49.34 to 49.61, to reverse the order from the 50 in the 100 free. Badger Cannon Clifton claimed the men’s race in 43.99.

Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson won the 200 back in 1:57.68. Mulcare won in 1:45.50.

Hayward won in the 200 breast in 2:15.79.

Wade won the 500 free in 4:45.94, just out-touching Wisconsin’s Danielle Valley’s 4:45.98.

Hutchins completed his distance sweep with a win in the 500 free in 4:21.54.

Hansson comes back to win 100 fly in 53.00 with Sanchez second again in 54.63. Sophomore Alex Valente (47.98) won the men’s 100 fly.

Scott won the women’s 400 IM in 4:15.36, while Mulcare posted his third win of the day with a 3:52.17.

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