Women's Swimming & Diving

Minutewomen Swimmers Top La Salle, Rhode Island In Tri-Meet

Saturday Swim & Dive results
UMass 155, La Salle 143
UMass 183, Rhode Island 113
Indiana State 229, Toledo 68
 
Recaps courtesy of Athletic Communications Departments

UMass Tops La Salle, Rhode Island in Tri-Meet | Results 
PHILADELPHIA – The University of Massachusetts women's swim team defeated La Salle, 155-143, and Rhode Island, 183-115, in a tri-meet, hosted by La Salle on Saturday afternoon at Kirk Pool.   

The Minutewomen totaled 17 top-three finishes on the day to go along, while collecting seven gold medals.

Freshman Flora Klimesch kicked off the individual events with a first-place finish in the 800 freestyle with a time of 8:25.56, followed by junior Ece Yildirim with a time of 8:36.00 in second.

In the 150 freestyle, junior Beren Cakiroglu swam a time of 1:23.70 to take third. Sophomore Maria Grishaeva placed third in the 50 backstroke with a time of 27.92.

Freshman Kata Baranova secured the gold in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 29.75, as junior Lindsay Burbage swam into third with a time of 30.46. Sophomore Hannah Schoenauer earned the bronze medal in the 150 butterfly with a time of 1:33.51.

During the 50 freestyle skins, sophomore Courtney Tedesco sat atop the podium in the event with fellow classmate Karinne Everly finishing third. The event started with six swimmers, eventually moving to the final four and then the final two. Tedesco completed the entire event with a time of 24.56, while Everly had a time of 25.00.

In the individual 50 freestyle, Cakiroglu grabbed her second medal of the day, this time taking the gold with a time of 24.62. Grishaeva and Burbage also secured their second medals of the afternoon, as Grishaeva earned the gold in the 150 backstroke (1:33.48) and Burbage picked up the silver in the 150 breaststroke (1:45.11).

Klimesch secured her second gold medal of the day after swimming a time of 4:06.82 in the 400 freestyle. Tedesco placed second in the 50 butterfly with a personal-best time of 50 butterfly. Junior Diya Ackerman-Vallala touched the wall second in the 100 individual medley with a personal-best time of 1:00.17.

In the relays, the 200 medley relay team of Grishaeva, Baranova, Everly, and Tedesco grabbed the silver with a combined time of 1:45.91. The 200 freestyle relay team of Tedesco, Everly, Ackerman-Vallala, and Cakiroglu swam a time of 1:37.78 to take first.

Up Next
Both the men's and women's swim teams return to action after the new year, hosting Bryant on Monday, January 5, at 11 a.m., at Joseph R. Rogers, Jr. Pool.


Ohio Sends Four Bobcats to the Toyota U.S. Open | Results
AUSTIN, Texas – Four members of the Ohio swim team traveled to Austin, Texas, (Dec. 5-6) to compete in the Toyota US Open, hosted by Texas. Sophomores Jordan Claypoole and Juliana Slaninka, junior Zita Szoke, and senior Casadie DiBetta swam for the Bobcats and competed in a total of six events, with Szoke medaling in the 100-meter freestyle.

DiBetta and Szoke competed in Friday's competition. Szoke swam in the 200-meter freestyle, with a time of 2:02.31 in prelims, going into the finals in 13th place. On Friday evening, Szoke finished with a time of 2:01.64 and finished the event in 14th place.

DiBetta swam in the 100-meter breaststroke, finishing prelims with a time of 1:10.08 and in 10th place. In the finals, DiBetta finished with a time of 1:09.93, staying in 10th place overall.

On Saturday, all four Bobcats swam in both the prelims and the finals.

Szoke swam in the 100-meter freestyle prelims and finished with a time of 54.94, earning her an eighth-place finish and a spot in the heat three finals. In the finals, Szoke finished with a time of 54.96, staying in eighth place, and medaled in the event.DiBetta swam in the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing prelims with a time of 2:33.67, ending the morning in ninth place. DiBetta finished the finals with a time of 2:32.37, earning herself a 10th-place finish.

Slaninka swam in the 200-meter backstroke and ended the prelims with a time of 2:18.81, finishing in 17th place. In the finals, Slaninka finished with a time of 2:18.05, coming in 15th place in the event.

Claypoole swam in the 50-meter butterfly and completed the prelims with a time of 28.11, ending the round in 26th place. Claypoole swam in the finals and finished with a time of 27.94, earning herself a 22nd-place finish.

The Bobcats return to the pool on Friday, Jan. 16th at 5 p.m. to face off against Bowling Green at the Aquatics Center (Athens, Ohio), where the Bobcat Seniors will be celebrated for Senior Day.  


Eastern Michigan vs. Golden Grizzly Classic
Recap coming soon...


Akron Shines on Day 3 of the Zippy Invitational
AKRON, Ohio — The University of Akron women delivered another electrifying performance Saturday at the Zippy Invitational, stacking up event titles, major points and relay dominance to strengthen their hold on the top of the standings heading into the final day of competition.

Senior Callie Parkes set the tone with a decisive win in the 100-yard butterfly, clocking 53.36 to outpace a deep championship field and secure Akron's first victory of the evening. Sophomore Addy Soehnlen (54.48) added a fifth-place finish, bolstering the Zips' scoring punch.

In one of the night's strongest events, the 200-yard freestyle, Akron placed four swimmers in the championship final. Sophomore Helena Lalkovic (1:47.62) and senior Hannah Trainer (1:49.13) led the way with a one-two finish, followed by senior Elle Couture (1:50.44) in fifth and junior Brie Trumpower (1:51.71) in seventh, a huge point-scoring haul that helped widen the Zips' overall lead.

Akron kept rolling in the 100-yard breaststroke, where junior Claire Cox surged to the event title in 1:00.69 — the only swimmer under 1:01 in the final — giving the Zips another top-of-the-podium performance and a wave of momentum midway through the session. The depth continued in the 100 breast as sophomore Madelyn Bosler (1:03.34) and Efi Mazaraki (1:03.49) finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

Akron had a pair of swimmers score in the final heat of the 100-yard backstroke as well. Freshman Avery Knight won the event with a 53.72 time, just under one-second from the NCAA DI A standard, while freshman Abbey Cronin (55.24) followed with a seventh-place showing.

Akron capped the night with a burst of electricity in the 200-yard freestyle relay, where Parkes, Trumpower, Trainer and Szwabinska stormed to a victory in 1:29.92. Their performance — the only sub-1:30 relay of the session — energized the Ocasek Natatorium crowd and delivered the Zips another marquee win.

At the close of Saturday's events, Akron remained on top of the women's team standings with 1,275 points, maintaining a slim but steady lead over Cornell and Buffalo entering Sunday's finale.

Prelims on Sunday, Dec. 7 are scheduled for 9 a.m. and finals are slated for a 4 p.m. start.


BGSU vs. Zippy Invitational
Recap coming soon...


Buffalo Posts Strong Day Three at Zippy Invite
AKRON, Ohio –The University at Buffalo swimming and diving program competed in day three of the Zippy Invite on Friday. The Bulls day was highlighted by Presley Dorsett winning the one-meter diving event and Ava Pauly and Pinar Donmez rising the program's all-time ranks in the 100-yard breaststroke. After three days the Bulls rank third of the seven women's programs in attendance.
"It was a solid night for us," said Head Coach Andy Bashor. "I liked the energy we had, and I felt that we competed well. Our divers really had a great day. Congratulations to Presley on winning the one-meter."
 
DAY THREE SWIMMING
The Bulls earned three of the top six spots in the 100-yard breaststroke finals. Donmez placed second with a time of 1:01.72, a new personal best that rose to third in program history. Pauly trailed to take third in the event with a time of 1:01.91, rising the program ranks to fifth all-time. Grace Rider was the third Buffalo swimmer to place, taking sixth in the event with a time of 1:02.78. Madi Tewksbury competed in the B-Finals, placing 11th overall in the event with a personal best time of 1:04.11.

In the preliminary round of the event, Donmez and Pauly both posted a time of 1:02.27 to place second in the field of 29 swimmers. The performance was the first of two personal best times for Pauly on the day. Rider was the third Buffalo swimmer to qualify for the finals, placing fifth in the event with a time of 1:02.85. Tewksbury put a fourth Buffalo swimmer in the top 10 of the preliminary round (1:04.52).

Nicole Aguilar placed second in the 100-yard butterfly finals, posting a season best time of 54.07. The senior's time was less than half of a second shy of her personal record that ranks fourth in program history (53.63). Maddy Schnelzer competed in the B-Finals of the event, taking third in the heat and 11th overall with a season best time of 56.59. Kaley Ream competed in the C-Final, placing 23rd in the event (59.18).

Bella Forsman was the program's first swimmer to place of the five finals competitors in the 400-yard individual medley. Forsman finished fourth overall in the event (4:20.56), trailed by Kamilla Nemes (5th, 4:21.99) and Hattie Wasmuth (8th, 4:31.29). Nemes' time was a personal best. Lillian Bailey earned first place in the B-Final, taking ninth overall with a personal best time of 4:28.18. Karen Austin earned second in the B-Final, only to Bailey, finishing the event with a time of 4:30.32. The Bulls earned five of the top 10 spots in the event.

Alex Bulat led the Bulls in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing 10th in the event (1:51.39). The time was a season best for the freshman. Ava Cunningham trailed to place 13th with a season best time of 1:52.81. Amanda Jurgelon (21st, 1:54.41) and Jillian Strine (25th, 1:54.71) competed in the C-Finals, both posting season best times.

Bulat placed ninth in the field of 42 swimmers in the preliminary round (1:51.55). Cunningham placed 15th to qualify for the B-Finals (1:53.59).

Vivian Roy placed eighth in the 100-yard backstroke (56.47). The junior also finished eighth in the preliminary round (56.15). Maddy Schnelzer finished 13th overall and fifth in the B-Final with a time of 57.79. Alexandra Ericson also competed for the Bulls, placing 20th and fourth in the C-Final with a time of 58.70. Ericson qualified for the finals with a personal record time of 58.40.

The Bulls closed out the third night of the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Bulat, Forsman, Aguilar and Jurgelon posted the Bulls' fastest time in the event this season, finishing in 1:33.33.
 
DAY THREE DIVING
The Bulls earned six of the top eight spots in one-meter diving on day three.

Dorsett headlined for the Bulls, winning the one-meter finals with a score of 280.05. The performance was a season best for the senior. Mallory Hanna earned second place, only to Dorsett, with a season best score of 277.30. Sophie Meuwissen placed fourth in the event (270.95), Adele Melamud earned fifth (265.55), Daphne Fox finished seventh (238.60) and Maggie Meyers placed eighth (235.85).

The Bulls took six of the top eight spots in the preliminary round of the one-meter to qualify for the finals. Meuwissen was the team's top finisher (262.25). Melamud earned third (253.50), Hanna finished fourth (248.50), Fox placed sixth (244.25), Meyers took seventh (243.75) and Dorsett rounded out the Bulls' competitors in eighth (242.30).

The Bulls earned three of the six podium spots and 10 of the 16 finals spots between the one-meter and three-meter at the Zippy Invite. All six divers qualified for the finals in at least one event.

The Bulls have had four or more divers place inside the top seven in each of the diving events this season. Of the 10 events the team has competed in, the Bulls have taken 59 of the top 70 spots on the leaderboard.

DAY FOUR SCHEDULE
  • 9 a.m. Preliminary Rounds: 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly
  • 4 p.m. Finals: 1650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relay