Resilience tested in loss to Arizona

Saturday, October 13

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Arizona

10/13/2018 6:16:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

Results

Nikolaev, relays shine in home meet against Wildcats

By: Nathan Okonek

The Grand Canyon swimming and diving team competed in its first home dual meet of the season against Arizona on a rainy Saturday in Phoenix.

In the programs' first meeting, Arizona came out victorious for men and women, with the Wildcats defeating the GCU men 172-125 and the women 204-80.

Nationally, Arizona is ranked 13th for men and 21st for women by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

"I think our student-athletes really stepped it up and competed well under very difficult conditions against one of the top programs in the country," Lopes head coach Steve Schaffer said. "Our men won six events, including very strong wins in both relays and a one-two-three sweep in the 50 freestyle."

Relays, which have been a strong point for the Lopes thus far, started off in convincing fashion again.

In the women's 200-yard medley relay, the GCU team of Brigit Van Der Vegte, Marina McInelly, Emily Muteti and Diana Jaruseviciute finished second with a time of 1 minute, 46.20 seconds.

The men's 200 medley relay of Mark Nikolaev, Samuel McKenzie, Daniil Antipov and Mazen Shoukri followed, winning the event for the second weekend in a row with a time of 1:29.94. Eran Ber, Asahi Nagahata, Owen Cameron and Bogdan Plavin finished in fourth with a time of 1:35.09.

Maja Uduc and Alonso Carazo Barbero both finished third in the 1,000 freestyle with Uduc finishing in 11:09.85 and Carazo Barbero in 9:39.52.

Nikolaev, the reigning WAC Swimmer of the Week, was back at it. He won the 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke for the second meet in a row, winning the 100 in 48.14 and the 200 in 1:49.17.

In the 200 butterfly, Muteti finished fourth for the women with a time of 2:10.69. Antipov placed second for the men in 1:50.08.

The men's 50 freestyle was all GCU, as the Lopes had an event sweep, with Shoukri (20.60), Plavin (21.00) and Florent Janin (21.30) finishing in first, second and third, respectively, to provide 16 points for GCU.

The Lopes had three in the top four of the 100 freestyle, as Shoukri finished second (46.04), McKenzie third (46.38) and Janin fourth (46.42).

In the 200 backstroke, Hannah Barker and Robyn Edwards contributed points to the women's score. Barker finished second with a time of 2:05.43 and Edwards was third (2:05.65). Barker also finished second in the 200 individual mediey with a time of 2:13.59

McInelly continued to have an impressive day in the pool as she finished second in the 200 breaststroke in 2:23.77.

Antipov capped off another strong meet, winning the 100 butterfly with a time of 48.77.

The Lopes men won both relay events, as the 400 freestyle relay team of Shoukri, McKenzie, Antipov and Nikolaev ended the meet strongly by winning the race with a time of 3:00.91.

For the women in the 1-meter dive, Menna El-Midany finished second with 214.65 points and Tasmin Stewart was third with 203.71. El-Midany also took second in the 3-meter dive with 227.07 points.

After winning the 1- and 3-meter events last weekend in Miami and earning WAC Diver of the Week, Pietro Hufnagel Toscani won the 1-meter dive Saturday with 310.65 points. Nick Benson finished third with 256.95 points.

In the 3-meter dive, Benson finished second with 282.00 points and Hufnagel Toscani was third with 269.55.

GCU is back in action at home Friday and Saturday against Seattle U's men and women and Loyola Marymount's women. Friday's events start at 2 p.m. and Saturday's schedule starts at 11 a.m.

"We have a long way to go," Schaffer said. "But this team of men and women are creating a vibrant team culture that values what our program values. This team really shows resilience in the face of adversity and competes regardless of how strong their opponent is. This is a very special group."

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