Washington University Swimming & Diving Sweeps Team Titles at IWU Invitational
RESULTS
Bloomington, Ill., Nov. 17, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams combined to win 13 events as both teams finished first at the Illinois Wesleyan University Invitational Saturday.
Washington University won eight events and scored 149 points to finish first in the women’s team standings ahead of runner-up Illinois Wesleyan (121). On the men’s side, the Bears won five events and scored 135 points to edge Augustana College, who finished second with 134.
The Washington U. women posted 11 of the top-12 finishes in the 200 freestyle, led by junior Jennifer Tartavull (2:00.01) and freshman Grace Counts (2:00.82) who finished first and second, respectively. Freshman Sophie Gan (1:09.95), Tartavull (1:10.33), and junior Connie Shao (1:12.32) all posted season-best times to sweep the top-three spots in the 100 breaststroke. Washington U. also swept first through third in the women’s 200 individual medley, with freshman Kristalyn McAfee (2:12.67) and junior Chi Pham (2:14.17) posting season bests to finish first and second, while sophomore Katrina Leyden (2:18.79) placed third.
On the men’s side, sophomore Luke Dobben (49.75), and freshmen Kaisen Yao (50.13) and RJ Petrella (50.17) each swam season-best times to finish first through third in the 100 freestyle. Washington U. swept the top-five spots in that event. Junior Brian Carpenter and sophomore Jake Ritchken finished first and second in the 100 breaststroke with times of 1:00.22 and 1:03.02, respectively.
Senior Brendan Morin also won an individual event for the Washington U. men, finishing first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.19. The 200-medley relay team of freshman Luke Duschl, Carpenter, freshman Reed Dalton and sophomore Matt Nutter won the event with a time of 1:38.26, while the team of Yao, Ritchken, Morin and sophomore Will Miller placed second in 1:39.48. Washington U. picked up its fifth event win in the 200-freestyle relay.
McAfee (1:00.54) and sophomore Hannah Chase (1:01.11) each recorded season bests to place first and second, respectively, in the 100 butterfly for the Washington U. women. In the 500 freestyle, sophomore Sara Taege posted a season-best time of 5:17.69 to win the race, while junior Grace Murray finished third with a season-best time of 5:24.91. Freshman Hannah Lillioja won the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:01.33.
The Washington U. women also swept the top-two finishes in both the 200-medley and 200-freestyle relays. Freshman Katie Anderson, Tartavull, freshman Amanda Stadermann and senior Veronica Tse teamed up to win the 200-medley relay in 1:52.63, while the team of Pham, Gan, Chase and McAfee placed second in 1:53.56.
The Washington University men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams return to action at the Wheaton Invitational Friday-Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, in Wheaton, Ill.