Lopes win dual meet in dramatic fashion

Photo by: Deb Schaffer

1/13/2018 11:45:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

By: Natha Okonek

PHOENIX--The Grand Canyon men's and women's swimming and diving team swam their final home meet of 2018 this Saturday, as both the men's and women's team come away with victories against Brigham Young University from Provo, Utah at the Fr Edward J. Reese Aquatic Center at Brophy Catholic College Preparatory.

The men came out on top against BYU by a score of (158.50-141.50), while the women blew away the Cougars, defeating BYU (188-112) capping off a successful and bittersweet senior day for our 13 seniors.

In an emotional meet on senior day and close finish leading up to the final event. Head coach Steve Schaffer was very happy with how the team competed and finished strong.

"A great meet to close out our seniors home career." Schaffer said, "It was a very strong win for our women and the men got the job done in a very close meet."

A very close meet is right, as the 200 yard freestyle relay team of Bogdan Plavin, Viktor Kertesz, Youssef El Kamash and Mazen El Kamash captured the win over with a first place time of (1:22.78), putting the nail in the coffin and ending senior day with smiles all around Fr Edward J. Reese Aquatic Center.

Mark Nikolaev, Youssef El Kamash, Daniil Antipov and Mazen El Kamash gave the Lopes an early lead, winning the 200 yard medley relay for GCU with a time of (1:29.02).

Youssef El Kamash also placed first in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of (55.85) and in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of (2:05.20), while Daniil Antipov came out on top in the 200 yard butterfly with a first place time of (1:50.99).

Additional first place finishes for the Lopes were Bogdan Plavin winning the 50 yard freestyle with a time of (20.83), Wiktor Jaszczak placing first in the 1000 yard freestyle with a time of (9:40.02) and in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of (4:40.85).

The Lopes also showed command finishing in the top four in the 100 yard backstroke with Mark Nikolaev (49,66), Eran Ber (52.29), Trent Trump (52.42) and Cameron Carney (53.31).

The women's 200 yard medley relay team of Iryna Glavnyk, Alyssa Christianson, Estela Davis Ortiz and Samiha Mohsen started senior day with a victory, finishing in first with a time of (1:45.76).

Davis Ortiz continued to have quite the day in her last home meet as a Lope, winning the 200 yard butterfly with a time of (2:04.38) and the 200 yard backstroke with a time of (2:01.47).

Iryna Glavnyk, Alyssa Christianson, Estela Davis Ortiz and Samiha Mohsen won the 200 Yard Medley Relay for GCU with a time of (1:45.76).

In the 50 yard freestyle, GCU had three swimmers place in the top three, with Samiha Mohsen (23.78), Diana Jaruseviciute (23.85) and Jade Howard (24.67).

Mohsen also placed first in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of (52.42) while Glavnyk won the 100 yard backstroke with a time of (57.01) and Roaia Mashaly coming out on top in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of (1:52.20).

The Lopes are back in action next on Jan. 27 in Las Vegas, as they take on UNLV and the University of Wyoming, before heading to Houston for the WAC Championships.

"We still have a lot to get done to be ready for the WAC Championships and the post season, but we are racing very well." Schaffer said, "Hopefully we can build on this and have a very good meet at UNLV."