SAN LUIS OBISPO – The UCSB swim and dive teams traveled up Highway 101 to Cal Poly on Saturday to compete in their second dual meet in as many days. The men’s team remained undefeated as it posted its third dual win of the season, 167-121. The women fell to the Mustangs, 177.5-117.5.
The men opened the meet with a one-two finish in the 200 medley relay. The ‘A’ team of Ryan Garcia, Kevin Ferguson, Bob Hwang and Chase Lemley touched the wall in 1:35. 37. The ‘B’ relay finished second with a mark of 1:36.44.
The Gauchos proceeded to win all but two of the swimming events – the 1000 and 500 freestyle. Chris Peterson won two individual events, taking first in the 200 freestyle (1:40.26) and the 100 free (45.17). Max Horrell was also a double event winner, capturing first in the 100 backstroke (52.65) and the 100 butterfly (50.80). Randy Aakhus doubled up with wins in the 200 backstroke (1:53.85) and 400 individual medley (4:04.53).
Evan Simoni won the 100 breaststroke (58.49), Ryan Garcia touched first in the 200 butterfly (1:53.86) and Kevin Ferguson won the 50 free (20.86) to round out the Gaucho individual event winners.
UCSB capped the meet with a victory in the 400 free relay. The all freshmen team of Lemley, Wade Allen, Chris Dotson and Steven Ewoldt finished in 3:08.71.
On the women’s side, UCSB got its first event win in the 200 freestyle with Emma Hunt touching first with a time of 1:53.86.
Sophia Yamauchi captured first place in the 100 breast (1:04.01), the 400 IM (4:27.46) and the 200 breast (2:17.71). She just beat out Cal Poly’s Angie Haven by .05 seconds in the latter event.
Unfortunately for the Gauchos, those four victories would be their only wins of the meet.
The UCSB divers wrapped up action at the USC Invitational on Saturday. On the men’s one-meter board, Erich Brodbeck was the Gauchos’ top finisher, placing 11th with a score of 226.20. In the women’s three-meter competition, Caila Baltas finished 23rd with a score of 180.30.
