The UCSB swimming and diving teams opened up the 2012-13 season with the women claiming two victories out of their three match-ups. They defeated Oregon State, 195-98 and Utah, 183-115, however lost to UCLA, 185-110. The men’s team was defeated by Utah, 161-138.
The men got off to a quick start finishing one-two in the 200 medley relay. The ‘A’ team of Josh Smith, Tim Freeman, Wade Allen, and Andrew Latimer took first place with a time of 1:32.22. The ‘B’ relay finished right behind them at 1:33.93. The women’s team of Marissa Neel, Sophia Yamauchi, Andrea Ward, and Katie Tomkinson took second place posting a mark of 1:44.87.
Andrew Barmann won the first individual event for the Gauchos taking first place in the 1000 yard freestyle (9:34.64). Freshman Armen Darbinyan came in second place (9:42.04). Barmann would also finish second place in the 500 yard freestyle.
Yamauchi won the first individual race of the day on the women’s side coming in first place in the 100 breastroke (1:04.47). She also finished first in the 200 breastroke (2:18.91). UCSB sophomore Carissa Metcalf took third place in both breastroke events.
Freeman had an excellent day in the pool after redshirting last season. The senior won his events in the 100 breastroke (56.57), 200 breastroke (2:05.61) and finished second in the 200 individual medley (1:54.61). UCSB sophomore Tyler Jean would finish right behind Freeman in the 100 breast taking second place (58.21).
Freshman Marissa Neel had a strong showing in her first collegiate meet. She captured a first place finish in the 200 backstroke (2:03.37) and finished a close second place in the 100 butterfly (55.52). For the men, Wade Allen touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly (50.12) with freshman Mickey Mowry placing third (51.52).
It was a back-and-forth battle all day for the men, but Utah pulled ahead winning the last two events and finished one-two-three in both diving events.
For the UCSB divers, Ryan Gerard was the top Gaucho on the one-meter board finishing fourth place with a score of 257.15. Erich Brodbeck took fourth in the three-meter board scoring 243.10 points. For the women, freshman Hannah Tomp placed fifth with a score of 228.30 on the one-meter board. Freshman Monika Terry placed fifth scoring 206.80 in the three-meter competition.
In the final event of the day the women’s team of Tomkinson, Emma Hunt, Ward, and Yamauchi took first in the 400 freestyle relay (3:30.33). The men wrapped up with a second place finish from Alex Campbell, Lucas Norman, Chris Dotson, and Wade in a time of 3:03.52.
“It was a good initial effort for us,” head coach Gregg Wilson said. “We have some areas to improve on and we’re looking forward to getting better.”
The men and women’s swimming and diving teams are back in action Nov. 2 when they take on UC San Diego at 12:00 pm at Campus Pool.
