Men's Swimming Downs UCSD; Women Split

Saturday, January 5

La Jolla, CA

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

114

UC San Diego

GCU to host Biola on Jan. 19.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/5/2013 5:20:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

The No. 3 Grand Canyon University men’s swimming team defeated No. 5 UC San Diego, 128-77, today in La Jolla, Calif. The No. 6 GCU women split a pair of duals, posting a 153-51 win over Cal East Bay, while dropping a tightly contested 114-85 decision to host and No. 3 UCSD.

The men recorded numerous victories today and were led by John Feely’s wins in the 200 free (1:42.06) and 500 free (4:36.51). Both were good enough for NCAA B cut standards.

Teammate Tanner Brotherton had wins in the 100 free (46.84) and as part of the 400 medley relay (3:17.54) and 400 free relay (3:04.99) squads. Kyle Shores, Eetu Karvonen and Ivan Nechunaev also swam on the 400 medley relay, while Shores, Michael Branning and Alexandr Dmitriyenko swam the 400 free relay. Both relay times were good enough for a B time cut.

Nechunaev equaled Feely's swim with a 1:42.06 in the 200 free. He also swam a B time of 1:51.87 in his second-place finish in the 100 fly.

Shores took first in the 50 free with an impressive 20:57 and B cut. Branning was second, also with a B cut (20.74). Karvonen cruised in the anticipated 200 breast, clocking in with a B mark 1:59.51. Brian Morrison (4:02.79 – B cut - 400 IM) and Everton Kida (1:52.93 – 200 back) were the other winners for the Antelopes.

“The men had an excellent win,” said head coach Steve Schaffer. “I was very concerned coming in to the meet that the format might favor UCSD, but our guys did what they needed to do and then some to make sure we came away with the win. It was an excellent team effort and good preparation for the coming RMAC and NCAA Championships.”

On the women’s side, Jaclyn Branning took first in the 200 breast, posting a 2:27.53. Inha Kotsur cruised to a 10-second win in the 1000 free with a B standard 10:28.18. She also had a B time of 5:06.00 in finishing second in the 500 free. The women’s 400 free relay team of Catherine Polito, Stacey Rudman, Rebecca Coan and Mychala Lynch took first with a 3:33.35 (B cut).

Polito touched the wall in second in the 200 free with a B time of 1:55.17.

“The UCSD women are one of the top two or three teams in Division II and our women put up a very good fight and had our closest finish ever against them,” said Schaffer. “They did not back down or crumble in the face of a stronger team, they are learning to battle and swim fast even when they are tired. Our free relay at the end was a great example of that.”

The women travel to face D-I New Mexico next week, Jan. 12, in Albuquerque. Both squads will be in action on Jan. 19, when they will host Biola at the Brophy Complex Pool in Phoenix, Ariz. That meet is slated to begin at 1 p.m.

Complete Results