Upcoming Event: Men's Swimming and Diving versus Arizona State on October 10, 2025
M Swimming
vs Arizona State
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Wednesday, February 25
San Antonio, TX
All Day
Grand Canyon
at
WAC Championships
Preview: WAC Swimming and Diving Championships
2/24/2015 11:02:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
Competition in San Antonio to get underway Wednesday
The Grand Canyon University men's and women's swimming and diving teams are getting set to take part in the 2015 WAC Swimming and Diving Championships. The four-day event will get underway at the Palo Alto Aquatic Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday before wrapping up on Saturday.
The finals of each day of the championships will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network and fans can click here to find that link. For more information on the championships, including a complete schedule of events, click here.
"It is going to be a very exciting meet and a very good battle for the top three places in both the women's and men's meets," said head coach Steve Schaffer. "On the men's side, UNLV has to be the favorite coming off a 19th place finish at NCAAs last year. Air Force and Wyoming finished ahead of us last year as well and both have been outstanding all season," said Schaffer. "For the women's meet NAU looks to be the favorite coming in with Idaho also looking very good, poised to give them a good fight," said Schaffer. "New Mexico State has looked much improved since we saw them early in the year as well."
After being named the WAC Freshman of the Year at last year's WAC Championships, Hannah Kastigar has had a very strong sophomore campaign. Kastigar, who was a four -time WAC Swimmer of the Week honoree during the season, holds the fastest times in the conference in the 200-fly, 200-IM, 400-IM and 1000-free. Iryna Glavnyk has also been impressive in her second season, as the sophomore holds a pair of WAC-best time heading into the championships.
Jovanna Koens has been GCU's top sprinter this year, as the sophomore recorded the fastest time in the conference in the 50-free and second-fastest in the 100-free. Vangelina Draganova's time of 1:02.60 is the fastest in the 100-breast heading into the championships.
The GCU women also have the top relay times heading into the week in the 200-medley relay and 400-medley relay.
"The women will be led by sophomores Hannah Kastigar and Iryna Glavnyk who accounted for six of the season's WAC Swimmer of the Week awards," Schaffer said. "Both of these women have given their team everything they had all season and I think the WAC meet will be their best meet yet. They both have a legitimate shot at winning three individual events and they are vital to our relays."
The divers will be led by junior Michael Bidak who has had a solid first season. The Scottsdale native heads to San Antonio with the second-best score in the 1-meter dive. Bidak is 10th in the 3-meter dive and ninth in the platform.
Junior Iegor Lytvenok and Illya Glazunov have been impressive this season, as the pair have combined for a total of five WAC Swimmer of the Week awards. Lytvenok holds the top times in the conference in the 200-back and 200-IM, while Glazunov has been one of the top sprinters in the conference all season.
Mantas Auruskevicius notched the quickest time in the conference this season in the 200-breast, as he touched the wall in a time of 1:58.99 at the Art Adamson Invitational in November. Youssef Elkamash turned in the second-fastest time in the WAC during the season in the 100-breast.
"The men will be led by juniors Iegor Lytvenok and Illya Glazunov who have earned five WAC Swimmer of the Week honors between them," said Schaffer. "We have not seen either of these guys at their best yet this season, they could put on quite a show this week."
 "Unlike dual meets, championship meets cannot be won by relying on our top swimmer's, said Schaffer. "If I were to list the swimmers who are key to our success, I would have to name every swimmer on the scoring roster. The key to these meets is how well your depth performs, so we are relying on every single swimmer and diver on our scoring squad to earn as many points as possible."
"Our kids have done a great job of training to get ready for this meet and they are looking great as we begin the final week of their taper," concluded Schaffer. "We should be able to be in the fight for the top three spots in both meets and most certainly improve our point totals over last year."
Fans can find a complete recap following each day of the championships at www.gculopes.com.
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The finals of each day of the championships will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network and fans can click here to find that link. For more information on the championships, including a complete schedule of events, click here.
"It is going to be a very exciting meet and a very good battle for the top three places in both the women's and men's meets," said head coach Steve Schaffer. "On the men's side, UNLV has to be the favorite coming off a 19th place finish at NCAAs last year. Air Force and Wyoming finished ahead of us last year as well and both have been outstanding all season," said Schaffer. "For the women's meet NAU looks to be the favorite coming in with Idaho also looking very good, poised to give them a good fight," said Schaffer. "New Mexico State has looked much improved since we saw them early in the year as well."
After being named the WAC Freshman of the Year at last year's WAC Championships, Hannah Kastigar has had a very strong sophomore campaign. Kastigar, who was a four -time WAC Swimmer of the Week honoree during the season, holds the fastest times in the conference in the 200-fly, 200-IM, 400-IM and 1000-free. Iryna Glavnyk has also been impressive in her second season, as the sophomore holds a pair of WAC-best time heading into the championships.
Jovanna Koens has been GCU's top sprinter this year, as the sophomore recorded the fastest time in the conference in the 50-free and second-fastest in the 100-free. Vangelina Draganova's time of 1:02.60 is the fastest in the 100-breast heading into the championships.
The GCU women also have the top relay times heading into the week in the 200-medley relay and 400-medley relay.
"The women will be led by sophomores Hannah Kastigar and Iryna Glavnyk who accounted for six of the season's WAC Swimmer of the Week awards," Schaffer said. "Both of these women have given their team everything they had all season and I think the WAC meet will be their best meet yet. They both have a legitimate shot at winning three individual events and they are vital to our relays."
The divers will be led by junior Michael Bidak who has had a solid first season. The Scottsdale native heads to San Antonio with the second-best score in the 1-meter dive. Bidak is 10th in the 3-meter dive and ninth in the platform.
Junior Iegor Lytvenok and Illya Glazunov have been impressive this season, as the pair have combined for a total of five WAC Swimmer of the Week awards. Lytvenok holds the top times in the conference in the 200-back and 200-IM, while Glazunov has been one of the top sprinters in the conference all season.
Mantas Auruskevicius notched the quickest time in the conference this season in the 200-breast, as he touched the wall in a time of 1:58.99 at the Art Adamson Invitational in November. Youssef Elkamash turned in the second-fastest time in the WAC during the season in the 100-breast.
"The men will be led by juniors Iegor Lytvenok and Illya Glazunov who have earned five WAC Swimmer of the Week honors between them," said Schaffer. "We have not seen either of these guys at their best yet this season, they could put on quite a show this week."
 "Unlike dual meets, championship meets cannot be won by relying on our top swimmer's, said Schaffer. "If I were to list the swimmers who are key to our success, I would have to name every swimmer on the scoring roster. The key to these meets is how well your depth performs, so we are relying on every single swimmer and diver on our scoring squad to earn as many points as possible."
"Our kids have done a great job of training to get ready for this meet and they are looking great as we begin the final week of their taper," concluded Schaffer. "We should be able to be in the fight for the top three spots in both meets and most certainly improve our point totals over last year."
Fans can find a complete recap following each day of the championships at www.gculopes.com.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
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