Swimming and Diving Downs Bakersfield

Saturday, October 18

Goodyear, AZ

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

190

109

Bakersfield

Iegor Lytvenok

Photo by: Deb Schaffer

10/18/2014 7:51:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

Men, Women Pick Up Wins over Bakersfield Saturday

The Grand Canyon University men's and women's swimming and diving teams defeated fellow Western Athletic Conference (WAC) member, Bakersfield, today in Canyon's home opener at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear. The Antelope women topped the 'Runners, 153-145, and the GCU men prevailed 190-109.

"We did very well today," said head swimming coach Steve Schaffer. "For the women, this was without a doubt the best dual meet win in the program's history. We got clobbered by Bakersfield last year and I told our women that they would have to exceed expectations to be able to win the meet today and they definitely did."

"Our men's team got their season started off with a bang," added Schaffer. "On paper, this was a much closer meet, but like the women, the guys really exceeded my expectations and dominated some events that I thought we would struggle a bit more in. For sure we still have a lot of room to improve, but our returners for the most part are well ahead of their times from this time last year, and our new guys are stepping up right away."

Just like she did a week ago at New Mexico State, reigning WAC Swimmer of the Week Hannah Kastigar finished first in all three individual events, posting the top time in the 500-free (4:58.78), 200-IM (2:04.98) and the 200-fly (2:00.64).

Iryna Glavnyk swam to the fastest time in the 100-backstroke, clocking a time of 56.72 seconds, while Hannah Peseau (1:00.65) finished third. Glavnyk (2:01.94) also won the 200-backstroke and Joana Ulyte (2:05.84) placed second in the same event. Glavnyk's time of 10:35.39 in the 1000-free gave her a second-place finish in the race.

The GCU women took the top three spots in the 100-breaststroke, as Daria Talanova led the pack with a time of 1:04.81, while Vangelina Draganova (1:07.07) and Kathleen Robertson (1:07.28) finished second and third, respectively. Talanova completed the double in the 200-breaststroke, taking first with a time of 2:22.86. Yara Fakhry (2:24.15) placed second and Draganova (2:24.70) third in the event. Fakhry also took third in the 200-IM with a time of 2:11.45.

Jovanna Koens posted the top time in the 50-free, touching the wall in a time of 23.81 seconds. Koens also grabbed second in the 100-free with a time of 52.00 seconds. Rebecca Coan finished second in the 100-fly, collecting a time of 57.73 seconds. Ulyte (1:56.63) and Petya Dimova (1:58.08) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 200-free.

For the GCU divers, Michael Bidak was impressive in his first dual, claiming first in both the 1-meter (308.30) dive and 3-meter dive (285.50). Michael Winfrey placed fourth in the 1-meter dive and fifth in the 3-meter dive. Rachel Adams finished third in the 3-meter dive and fourth in the 1-meter dive.

"I am very proud of the divers today," said head diving coach Tracey Eldridge. "All three contributed to both wins as a team, and had a very strong finish. We are excited to have a few more weeks of training before we compete again, because we are going to step up the degree of difficulty."

The Canyon men finished in the first through fourth positions in the 100-breaststoke. Youssef Elkamash (57.13 seconds) edged Mantas Auruskevicius (57.19 seconds), while Aslan Burbayev (59.33 seconds) came in third and Tom Wahlers (59.78 seconds) fourth. Auruskevicius' time of 2:07.53 in the 200-breaststroke was good enough for first and Youssef Elkamesh placed second with a time of 2:07.73.

Iegor Lytvenok recorded the quickest time in the 100-backstroke, finishing with a time of 51.78 seconds. John Feely (52.19 seconds) finished just behind Lytvenok for second. Lytevenok (1:46.66) and Feely (1:53.88) also finished first and second in the 200-backstroke, respectively. Nathon Burwick captured fourth in the event with a time of 1:56.10.

Lytevenok finished with his third and most impressive win of the day in the 200-IM, touching the wall in a time 1:48.39–his mark would be a NCAA Division I-B qualifying time. Burwick finished third in the event, notching a time of 1:57.29. Trent Godfrey (1:56.58) and Stanislav Saiko (2:00.40) finished 1-2 in the 200-fly. Saiko also (50.18 seconds) finished second in the 100-fly and Tanner Brotherton (51.58 seconds) took third.

Illya Glazunov (20.29 seconds), Brotherton (21.09 seconds) and Jacob Lambros (21.15 seconds) placed first through third in the 50-free, respectively. Glazunov (44.71 seconds), Brotherton (46.45 seconds) and Lambros (46.58 seconds) finished in the same order in the 100-free.

"We have a quick turn around this week as we leave for Seattle on Thursday and swim Friday and Saturday," concluded Schaffer. "It will be interesting to see how we handle the trip and racing over two days."

The GCU swimmers will be back in action next Friday and Saturday at Seattle U and fans can find more information on next weekend's meet in Seattle at www.gculopes.com.

Click here for today's complete results.