LONG BEACH – “Today was really rough after doing so well this dual meet season,” said Coach Gregg Wilson of the final day of competition at the Big West Championships. “We had opportunities to come back after Ann Marie May’s injury and all of the diving points but we didn’t do it.”
The UCSB Santa Barbara men’s and women’s swim teams started the fourth day of the Big West Championships.
Both the men’s and women’s teams ended in second place behind UC Davis. The women’s team was just edged out by 12 points with a score of 862 o 854. The men lost by 62 points with a score of 896.5.
Although both the men’s and women’s swim teams ended yesterday with two wins, the men’s team failed to make up the points they lost by the UC Davis’ diving team and captain Ann Marie May suffered a rib injury in one of her races forcing Coach Wilson to take her out of the rest of the meet in order to not jeopardize her NCAA standing.
Another great meet for sophomore Tim Freeman; coming off his huge record-breaking win in the 100 breaststroke event was looking to do the same in the 200 breaststroke. Although Freeman did not break the 200 breaststroke Big West Conference record, he did break a 18 year old UCSB school record, placing second overall with a time of 1:56.86, a personal best and a NCAA “B” standard qualifier. Travis Jepson also placed in the finals with a time of 2:03.09, placing fifth. Also, Evan Simomi, placed tenth in the consols with a time of 2:04.42.
The women did well also, starting off with a win in the 200 backstroke finals thanks to freshman Katie Stover, who has had a fantastic first Big West Championships, came into the wall with a very quick 1:58. 93 qualifying for a NCAA “B’ cut standard. Katie Ure was the next, coming in third overall with a time of 2:01.06. After Ure, in fifth, was Jessica Schwalb touched with a time of 2:02.63.
On the men’s side for the 200 backstroke finals, Shane Hurter touched first for the Gauchos coming in fifth with a time of 1:49.30. Right after Hurter came sophomore, Ryan Garcia, placing sixth, with a time of 1:50.89. In the consols, Joe Plume touched ninth with a time of 1:51.02 and Brandon Shilling came in tenth with a time of 1:51.76.
Without May, the women were unable to win the 100 freestyle event but had a very strong showing with UCSB having five of the eight swimmers in the finals. Courtney Bauer was touched third overall with a time of 51.07. Sasza Lohrey came in fourth, right after Bauer, with a time of 51.28. In fifth was Kendall Neely with a time of 51.30. Another Gaucho was after Neely; touching sixth was Katie Tomkinson with a time of 51.43; and after Tomkinson was sophomore Olivia Plume, finishing seventh with a time of 52.12.
The men, looking to make up some points against UC Davis had a great final for the 100 freestyle event with six of the eight swimmers being Gauchos. UCSB took the top three spots thanks to Chris Peterson, who placed first overall with a time of 44.33, which is a qualifying time for a NCAA “B” standard. Next, was Kevin Ferguson, with a time of 44.46 followed by Kevin Kuhn with a time of 44.7. Scott Vogelgesang placed fifth overall with a time of 45.05. Ryan Hanii tied for sixth place with UC Davis’ Derek Baldwin with a time of 45.30. Dan Morris was right after, placing eighth with a time of 45.34.
Just like the 100 breaststroke, Emily Adamczyk was the lone Gaucho in the finals and she delivered. Adamczyk just got out-touched placing second with a time of 2:14.85, a NCAA “B” standard qualifier.
Momentum of the 200 breaststroke was evident for the men’s 200 butterfly with senior Danny McClary finishing his career for UCSB on top, with a win and a time of 1:47.41. This time qualifies McClary for a NCAA “B” cut standard. Chris Wiggin came in third with a time of 1:48.23, followed by Jon Kraetsch with a fourth place finish and a time of 1:48.26. After Kraetsch was Max Horrell, touching fifth with a time of 1:50.57.
Coming into the 400 freestyle relays, both the women’s and men’s teams were down. The only chance for the women to win would be if UC Davis false started but unfortunately they did not. The women’s “A” team did perform very well though with a first place finish thanks to Naomi Javanifard, Courtney Bauer, Sasza Lohrey and Katie Stover (3:20.99). This time qualifies them for a NCAA “B” standard..
The men’s “A” team also had a first place finish with Kuhn, Vogelgesang, Peterson and Ferguson touching with a time of 2:57.28. This time, like the women’s “A” relay, qualifies the men for a NCAA “B” cut standard.
