SAN LUIS OBISPO — The UCSB swimming and diving teams split a dual meet at Cal Poly’s Anderson Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon. The Mustang women came up big on their Senior Day, beating the Gauchos 172-128, while the UCSB men won a nail-biter 151.5-146.5.
Heading into the final event of the day, the Gaucho men found themselves losing in a tight race. They proceeded to finish one-two in the 200 freestyle relay thanks to the ‘A’ relay of Ryan Hanni, Alexander Campbell, Tim Freeman and Andrew Dossa (1:24.26) and the ‘B’ relay of Chase Lemley, Wade Allen, Andrew Latimer and Andy Castilleja (1:24.69).
Even after the relay, UCSB thought they had still lost the meet.
“We thought it was over and we lost on both the men and women’s side,” head coach Gregg Wilson said. “About 15-20 minutes later, after they scored diving, we found out we had won.”
In the men’s one-meter competition the Gauchos finished one-two-three. Erich Brodbeck took first with a top-score of 262.95. Ryan Gerard was right behind him with a score of 261.22, while Nic Grantham came in third at 235.35.
Mickey Mowry won the first race of the day for the men in the 200 butterfly (1:50.90). Mowry also touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 50.28.
Other winners on the day for the men included Allen in the 50 freestyle (21.06), Dossa in the 100 freestyle (46.57) and Castilleja in the 200 breaststroke (2:05.01).
The men finish the season 5-2 in dual meets.
The Gaucho women were unable to sustain their early success throughout the meet.
“It was a tough meet for our women,” Coach Wilson said. “It was Cal Poly’s last home meet and they were ready for us.”
The Gaucho women got off to a hot start winning the first three events of the day. The ‘A’ relay of Allie Knight, Sophia Yamauchi, Andrea Ward and Katie Tomkinson opened up with a victory in the 200 medley relay (1:45.70).
Heren Alanis won the next event the 1000 freestyle in convincing fashion. With a time of 10.27.19 she won by more than five seconds.
Yamauchi then continued the success with a victory in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.24. She was a multiple winner on the day, as she also won in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.78).
After the quick start the Gauchos slowed down until the end of the meet but it was too late. Alanis picked up another victory, this time in the 400 IM with a time of 4:29.41.
Ward came through with a victory in the 500 freestyle in 5:06.72.
Monika Terry contributed in the three-meter dive competition finishing first-place with a score of 253.80.
The women finish the season with a 7-4 record in dual meets.
Next up for the women will be the MPSF Swimming and Diving Championships, which take place Feb. 20-23.
The men meanwhile will be at the Pac-12 Diving Championships Feb. 28-Mar. 2 and the Swimming Championships Mar. 3-6.
