Photo Courtesy: Kyle Staggs<\/p>\n
PHOENIX, Arizona, October 19. Grand Canyon swimming kicked off its season with a pair of Western Athletic Conference wins against Cal State Bakersfield. The men won 190-109, while the women triumphed, 153-145.<\/p>\n
The Grand Canyon University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams defeated fellow Western Athletic Conference (WAC) member, Bakersfield, today in Canyon’s home opener at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear. The Antelope women topped the ‘Runners, 153-145, and the GCU men prevailed 190-109.<\/p>\n
“We did very well today,” said head swimming coach Steve Schaffer. “For the women, this was without a doubt the best dual meet win in the program’s history. We got clobbered by Bakersfield last year and I told our women that they would have to exceed expectations to be able to win the meet today and they definitely did.”<\/p>\n
“Our men’s team got their season started off with a bang,” added Schaffer. “On paper, this was a much closer meet, but like the women, the guys really exceeded my expectations and dominated some events that I thought we would struggle a bit more in. For sure we still have a lot of room to improve, but our returners for the most part are well ahead of their times from this time last year, and our new guys are stepping up right away.”<\/p>\n
Just like she did a week ago at New Mexico State, reigning WAC Swimmer of the Week Hannah Kastigar finished first in all three individual events, posting the top time in the 500-free (4:58.78), 200-IM (2:04.98) and the 200-fly (2:00.64).<\/p>\n
Iryna Glavnyk swam to the fastest time in the 100-backstroke, clocking a time of 56.72 seconds, while Hannah Peseau (1:00.65) finished third. Glavnyk (2:01.94) also won the 200-backstroke and Joana Ulyte (2:05.84) placed second in the same event. Glavnyk’s time of 10:35.39 in the 1000-free gave her a second-place finish in the race.<\/p>\n
The GCU women took the top three spots in the 100-breaststroke, as Daria Talanova led the pack with a time of 1:04.81, while Vangelina Draganova (1:07.07) and Kathleen Robertson (1:07.28) finished second and third, respectively. Talanova completed the double in the 200-breaststroke, taking first with a time of 2:22.86. Yara Fakhry (2:24.15) placed second and Draganova (2:24.70) third in the event. Fakhry also took third in the 200-IM with a time of 2:11.45.<\/p>\n
Jovanna Koens posted the top time in the 50-free, touching the wall in a time of 23.81 seconds. Koens also grabbed second in the 100-free with a time of 52.00 seconds. Rebecca Coan finished second in the 100-fly, collecting a time of 57.73 seconds. Ulyte (1:56.63) and Petya Dimova (1:58.08) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 200-free.<\/p>\n
For the GCU divers, Michael Bidak was impressive in his first dual, claiming first in both the 1-meter (308.30) dive and 3-meter dive (285.50). Michael Winfrey placed fourth in the 1-meter dive and fifth in the 3-meter dive. Rachel Adams finished third in the 3-meter dive and fourth in the 1-meter dive.<\/p>\n
“I am very proud of the divers today,” said head diving coach Tracey Eldridge. “All three contributed to both wins as a team, and had a very strong finish. We are excited to have a few more weeks of training before we compete again, because we are going to step up the degree of difficulty.”<\/p>\n
The Canyon men finished in the first through fourth positions in the 100-breaststoke. Youssef Elkamash (57.13 seconds) edged Mantas Auruskevicius (57.19 seconds), while Aslan Burbayev (59.33 seconds) came in third and Tom Wahlers (59.78 seconds) fourth. Auruskevicius’ time of 2:07.53 in the 200-breaststroke was good enough for first and Youssef Elkamesh placed second with a time of 2:07.73.<\/p>\n
Iegor Lytvenok recorded the quickest time in the 100-backstroke, finishing with a time of 51.78 seconds. John Feely (52.19 seconds) finished just behind Lytvenok for second. Lytevenok (1:46.66) and Feely (1:53.88) also finished first and second in the 200-backstroke, respectively. Nathon Burwick captured fourth in the event with a time of 1:56.10.<\/p>\n
Lytevenok finished with his third and most impressive win of the day in the 200-IM, touching the wall in a time 1:48.39\u2013his mark would be a NCAA Division I-B qualifying time. Burwick finished third in the event, notching a time of 1:57.29. Trent Godfrey (1:56.58) and Stanislav Saiko (2:00.40) finished 1-2 in the 200-fly. Saiko also (50.18 seconds) finished second in the 100-fly and Tanner Brotherton (51.58 seconds) took third.<\/p>\n
Illya Glazunov (20.29 seconds), Brotherton (21.09 seconds) and Jacob Lambros (21.15 seconds) placed first through third in the 50-free, respectively. Glazunov (44.71 seconds), Brotherton (46.45 seconds) and Lambros (46.58 seconds) finished in the same order in the 100-free.<\/p>\n
“We have a quick turn around this week as we leave for Seattle on Thursday and swim Friday and Saturday,” concluded Schaffer. “It will be interesting to see how we handle the trip and racing over two days.”<\/p>\n
Paola Hernandez and Mitchell Huxhold performed as well as could be expected in Bakersfield\u2019s swimming season opener, but Grand Canyon was victorious in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s duals. The Antelope men defeated Bakersfield 190-109 while the lady \u2018Lopes edged out their \u2018Runner counterparts by just eight points, 153-145.<\/p>\n
Men<\/strong><\/p>\n Huxhold (Sr., Escondido, Calif., San Pasqual HS) led the \u2018Runner men with three victories on Saturday. The senior, who swam a strong time of 4:39.66 in the 500 free and 9:49.55 in the 1000 free, helped Bakersfield to a Top 3 sweep in both events. Huxhold finished ahead of teammates Bryant Fascio (Fr., Los Angeles, Calif., Rancho Cucamonga HS) and Carson May (Jr., Covina, Calif., Damien HS). Gabriel Bertrand (Sr., Tibro, Sweden, Nykopingssimg Gymnasium) finished fourth in the 500 as well while putting up a fast time of 1:42.39 in the 200 free.<\/p>\n \u201cMitchell won three events with impressive times and Gabriel was also impressive this early in the season,\u201d said Bakersfield\u2019s Director of Swimming and Diving, Chris Hansen. \u201cMihael Vukic won the 100 fly in a very impressive 49.89. We have not had someone go under the 50.00 range in a very long time. Mihael also anchored the 400 free relay with an impressive 45.26.\u201d Vukic\u2019s (So., Zabok, Croatia, Univ. of Louisville) 45.26 in his 100-yard leg of the 400 free relay was just over half a second away from cracking the Bakersfield Top 5 performance list in the event.<\/p>\n Before the meet, Hansen said he believed the diving team was the key to having a shot in dual meets and the Bakersfield divers did not disappoint their coach on Saturday. Freshman Brayden Greenwald (Henderson, Nev., Coronado HS) finished second in both 1m and 3m diving while his brother, Tyler Greenwald (So., Henderson, Nev., Coronado HS) finished third in both events. \u201cBrayden had a great score in the 1m diving to get second place,\u201d said Hansen of his freshman diver who scored 259.05 in the event.<\/p>\n While Hansen\u2019s men suffered a loss on Saturday, their leader was happy with the overall results: \u201cThe men need to step up in some of the stroke events. With such a young team, I think we swam fast this early in the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Women<\/strong><\/p>\n After falling behind in the first half of the meet, the women\u2019s team gained some big ground after taking first in both diving events. Carlee Burks (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) picked up nine points with a win in the 3m while Melissa Gore (So., Taft, Calif., Taft Union HS) took the 1m event. The Roadrunner women gave Grand Canyon a good battle, but ran out of events to complete the comeback.<\/p>\n Paola Hernandez (So., Lompoc, Calif., Cabrillo HS) highlighted the day for Bakersfield as she touched the wall victoriously in three events. The sophomore from California won the 100 (51.72) and 200 free (1:53.41) and anchored the 400 free relay team that took first (3:29.29). \u201cPaola impressed me today with her 100 free,\u201d said Hansen.<\/p>\n \u201cMichaela Paige, Delise Batiza, Carlee Burks and Melissa Gore all impressed me today and were definitely the leaders,\u201d remarked Hansen of his squad. Paige (Jr., Lompoc, Calif., Cabrillo HS) took first in the 100 fly (57.34) and second in the 500 free (5:08.53). \u201cMichaela swam a hard double with the 500 free and 100 fly. Dylana Milobar\u2019s 200 breast time of 2:26.03 is where she needs to be right now. If she keeps improving every meet, we will have her where we need her by November,\u201d said Hansen. Milobar (So, Kamloops, B.C., Valleyview Secondary School) took fourth in the 200 breast behind GCU\u2019s formidable core of breaststrokers.<\/p>\n Hansen expressed satisfaction from the performances of many of his swimmers, including the 200 medley relay team of Nicolette Goncalves (Jr., Mississauga, Ontario, Erindale Secondary School), Milobar, Lucy Sanderson (So., London, England, Kelley College), and senior Lauren Kaufman (Renton, Wash., TCU): \u201cThey had a great finish and relay split by Lauren for a second place finish.\u201d Batiza (Sr., San Ramon, Calif., Oregon State) also added a strong performance in the 1000 free (10:32.12). \u201cDelise always impresses me with how she swims her own race. She was eight seconds behind at the 500 to come back and win,\u201d said Hansen of his senior \u2018Runner.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a whole, we are happy about how we swam and dove today. We only lost by eight points and had a disqualification which hurt us.\u201d For complete results from Sautrday’s dual meet, open the attached PDF.<\/p>\n Both squads will be back in the pool Saturday, Oct. 25, as the \u2018Runners open their home schedule with a dual meet against Pacific. The first race is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the Hillman Aquatics Complex on campus.<\/p>\n