TCU, North Dakota, Kansas Battling in Two-Day Tussle in Lawrence

LAWRENCE, Kansas, November 2. THE TCU men's swimming team is in control of its dual meet against North Dakota 123-63 after one night. The Horned Frogs women are leading UND 150-35, but trail Kansas 119-66.

“We are swimming better than we did a week ago when we won at Rice,” head coach Richard Sybesma said. “We are up against a pretty good Big 12 team in KU. I thought the momentum shifted a little when we felt we would be second, third or fourth and Kansas was getting those points.”

Harrison Bui led the Horned Frogs men with three event wins Friday night. The freshman posted individual wins in the 100 breast (58.30) and 200 IM (1:56.74) before being part of the 400 medley relay win.

After a competitive first few events, the Horned Frogs men began to put the pedal down in the 100 back. Cooper Robinson crushed the field, finishing first by four seconds in a time of 50.32. Josh Mangus was second (53.74) and Thor Stenfjord was third (54.59).

The TCU men followed that up with a sweep of the 200 fly. Luiz Azarias touched the wall first in 1:50.84 followed by Ryker Saunders (1:55.59) and Grayson Whitten (1:56.04).

“Luiz and Cooper started the momentum for the men's team,” Sybesma said. “It carried over with the win in the 50 and then Harrison's win in the IM. We are happy with the position the men's team is in.”

In the diving well, Ricky Bradley won the 1-meter competition with a score of 289.15. Curtis Muller took fifth with 257.40 and Sean Evans sixth with 257.35.

“Ricky was very consistent,” diving coach Wayne Chester said. “We have been concentrating on 3-meter for the men, but he put together a good list.”

TCU's men won both relays with the team of Adam Szilagyi, Saunders, August Van Allen and Devin Price winning the 200 free relay (1:26.24) and Robinson, Bui, Azarias and Price in the 400 medley relay (3:25.57). Price also posted a win in the 50 free in 21.45, just out touching Szilagyi's 21.49. Stenfjord won the 1,000 free in 9:37.25.

The event of the night came in the women's 1,000 freestyle competition as Sara Brzozowski and Kansas' Rebecca Swank staged a tight battle. The two swam neck-and-neck the entire race with the duo rarely being a quarter-second apart. Brzozowski got her first lead with 150 to go and was able to take that to the finish and win in 10:16.95. Mikayla Winkler took third in 10:20.58.

“Sara did a good job of hanging on with her competitor,” Sybesma said. “She saved up and wanted to blow by her in the last 100, and that became the last 50. She loves those type of races.”

Sabine Rasch continued to be her dominant self in the 50 free as she ran away with the event in 23.56. She also showed her strength leading off the 200 free relay in 23.77.

“I am happy with the win in the 50,” Sybesma noted. “Sabine had a great swim.”

The Horned Frogs women produced a strong performance in the 200 free as TCU touched the wall in second (Winkler, 1:52.30), third (Katie Scarsella, 1:52.73) and fourth (Brzozowski, 1:53.67).

The TCU women were always in for a challenge against the host Jayhawks. That was shown immediately in the 200 free relay as the Horned Frogs were chased down from behind on the final leg, touching second in 1:39.49, only .10 seconds off the win.

“I think it took the wind out of our sails a little bit,” Sybesma said. “That is an event we are not used to losing.”

Katie Lybbert led the TCU divers on 3-meter, taking second with 256.40. Lauren Mikulecky was right behind in third with 248.85 and Kristen Connolly fourth with 237.20.

“The girl from Kansas did a nice job,” Chester noted. “The girls have been working on 1-meter, so it should set up well for tomorrow.”

Competition will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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