Gauchos begin swim season by beating BYU

In their 2014-15 season opener, the UCSB women’s swimming team dueled both UCLA and BYU today at Campus Pool. The winds were strong but our swimmers proved to be stronger as they out-scored BYU 164-98. UCLA, however, took the win over both teams, beating UCSB 162-96. Additionally, ten new swimmers made their Gaucho debuts today.

UCSB’s 200 Medley “A” Relay, consisting of Julia Mikota, Katie Records, Allie Stevens, and Lauren Vosseler, earned third place to begin the meet. Vosseler anchored the relay with a sizzling 23.4 on the 50 free.

Reid Whaley (10:25.19) put up a best time in the 1000 Freestyle in a fourth place finish. Freshman Annie Larsen (10:32.35) followed closely behind to earn fifth in her first race as a Gaucho.

Despite strong UCLA freestylers, Hope Curran came out as the fastest for UCSB with her 1:54.49 200 Free time.

UCLA’s Allison Wine (1:04.02) and UCSB’s Katie Records (1:04.29) dueled it out in the 100 Breast, with Wine just barely out-touching Records for the first place finish.

Junior Lauren Vosseler, one of UCSB’s top recruits as a transfer, came in at 23.94 for a second place finish in her first 50 Free as a Gaucho.

Shortly after, Vosseler (52.28) earned third place in the 100 Free. Hope Curran (53.01) was close behind in her fourth place finish.

Katie Records (2:19.81) took part in yet another tight race in the 200 breaststroke, coming in just .3 seconds after UCLA’s Jessica Khojasteh (2:19.49). Jiana Vargem (2:21.71) and Alyssa Shew (2:22.33) took third and fourth, respectively.

Annie Larsen (5:09.44) put up some more Gaucho points with a third place finish in the 500 Free.

Jaime Dang (57.74) was right on top of her best time with a second place finish in the 100 Fly.

Freshman Alyssa Shew (2:09.79) took second in the 200 IM, with Jiana Vargem (2:11.87) trailing closely behind.

UCSB’s 400 Free “A” Relay team, consisting of Kimmie Kreuzberger, Hollace Barden, Meghan Bicomong, and Lauren Vosseler, swam a tight race against UCLA’s “A” Team, just missing the mark for first place with a 3:29.85 finish.