WAC Championships: By the numbers

Photo by: Deb Schaffer

2/25/2018 9:27:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

By: Nathan Okonek

PHOENIX --The Grand Canyon men's and women's swimming and diving teams' are headed home after a week long trip to Western Athletic Conference Championships in Houston. While the team did not capture a team WAC Championship, head coach Steve Schaffer and the Lopes have many achievements to be proud of.

"This was a very good meet for us as we prepare for the post season at the NCAA Championships and the CSCAA National Invitational Championships." Schaffer said, "While our team finish still highlights our lack of depth compared to the other teams, having both the Men's and Women's Swimmers of the Year, along with so many WAC records, WAC Champions and Division I A and B Cuts, shows that the upper end of team is very good indeed."

By the numbers:

2: Swimmers of the Year

Junior Mark Nikolaev and Senior Estela Davis Ortiz were named Western Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Swimmers of the Year.

2: Division I "A" Cuts

Mark Nikolaev has an "A" Cut in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 44.71. His relay leadoff time of is currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA. The men's 200 yard medley relay team of Nikolaev, Youssef El Kamash, Daniil Antipov and Bogdan Plavin hold the second "A" Cut for GCU with a time of 1:24.33 which ranks No. 11 in the NCAA.

19: Division I "B" Cuts

Mark Nikolaev: 200 yard individual medley (1:43.60) 200 yard backstroke (1:40.81)
Samiha Mohsen: 50 yard freestyle (22.75)
Bogdan Plavin: 50 yard freestyle (19.69)
Mazen El Kamash: 50 yard freestyle (19.77) and 100 yard freestyle (43.94)
Daniil Antipov: 50 yard freestyle (19.96), 100 yard fly (46.08) and 200 yard fly(1:42.60)
Estela Davis Ortiz: 400 yard individual medley (4:18.53), 100 yard backstroke (54.32) and 200 yard backstroke (1:56.18)
Iryna Glavnyk: 100 yard backstroke (54.46) and 200 yard backstroke (1:57.96)
Mantas Auruskevicius: 100 yard breaststroke (54.69)
Asahi Nagahata: 100 yard breaststroke (55.28)
Diana Jaruseviciute: 100 yard freestyle (49.367)
Youssef El Kamash: 100 yard breaststroke (53.05) and 200 yard breaststroke (1:56.45)

7: WAC Records

Daniil Antipov: 100 yard fly (46.08)
Daniil Antipov: 200 yard fly (1:42.60)
Mark Nikolaev: 100 yard backstroke (44.71)
Mark Nikolaev: 200 yard backstroke (1:40.81)
Mark Nikolaev: 200 yard individual medley (1:43.60)
Daniil Antipov, Youssef El Kamash, Mark Nikolaev, Bogdan Plavin: 200 yard medley relay (1:24.33)
Daniil Antipov, Mazen El Kamash, Youssef El Kamash, Mark Nikolaev: 400 yard medley relay (3:07.55)

12: GCU School Records

Mark Nikolaev: 100 backstroke (44.71)
Daniil Antipov: 100 yard fly (46.08)
Mark Nikolaev: 200 yard backstroke (1:40.81)
Daniil Antipov: 200 yard fly (1:42.60)
Mark Nikolaev: 200 yard individual medley (1:43.60)
Daniil Antipov, Youssef El Kamash, Mark Nikolaev, Bogdan Plavin: 200 yard medley relay (1:24.33)

Samiha Mohsen: 50 yard free (22.75)
Diana Jaruseviciute: 100 yard free (49.67)
Estela Davis Ortiz: 100 yard backstroke (54.32)
Estela Davis Ortiz: 200 yard backstroke (1:56.18)
Diana Jaruseviciute, Kenya McCray, Samiha Mohsen, Salma Zaitoun: 200 yard free relay (1:32.43)
Iryna Glavnyk, Diana Jaruseviciute, Marina McInelly, Samiha Mohsen: 200 yard medley relay (1:40.60)

11: Men's WAC Champions

Daniil Antipov: 100 yard fly (46.08)
Mark Nikolaev: 100 backstroke (44.88)
Youssef El Kamash: 100 breaststroke (53.05)
Daniil Antipov: 200 yard fly (1:42.60)
Mark Nikolaev: 200 yard backstroke (1:40.81)
Youssef El Kamash: 200 yard breaststroke (1:56.45)
Mark Nikolaev: 200 yard individual medley (1:43.60)
Mazen El Kamash, Youssef El Kamash, Viktor Kertesz, Bogdan Plavin: 200 yard free relay (1:18.53)
Daniil Antipov, Youssef El Kamash, Wiktor Jaszczak, Mark Nikolaev: 800 yard free relay (6:27.88)
Daniil Antipov, Youssef El Kamash, Mark Nikolaev, Bogdan Plavin: 200 yard medley relay (1:24.33)
Daniil Antipov, Mazen El Kamash, Youssef El Kamash, Mark Nikolaev: 400 yard medley relay (3:07.55)

6: Women's WAC Champions

Samiha Mohsen: 50 yard free (22.75)
Diana Jaruseviciute: 100 yard free (49.67)
Estela Davis Ortiz: 100 yard backstroke (54.32)
Estela Davis Ortiz: 200 yard backstroke (1:56.18)
Diana Jaruseviciute, Kenya McCray, Samiha Mohsen, Salma Zaitoun: 200 yard free relay (1:32.43)
Iryna Glavnyk, Diana Jaruseviciute, Marina McInelly, Samiha Mohsen: 200 yard medley relay (1:40.60)

With the conference tournament completed, the Lopes still have a lot to look forward to. This March, Antipov, Y. El Kamash, M. El Kamash, Nikolaev and Plavin will have the opportunity to travel to Minneapolis and compete in the Division I NCAA Championships for the first-time in school history.

Head coach Steve Schaffer talks about what is in store for GCU Swimming and Diving these upcoming weeks.

"We will definitely have Mark competing individually at the NCAA Championships in the 100 yard and 200 yard backstroke events." Schaffer said, "We will also be competing in the 200 yard medley relay, 400 yard medley relay and the 200 yard free relay. We will have about twelve women and seven men competing in the CSCAA National Invitational Championships as well our divers, Nick Benson, Pietro Hufnagel Toscani and Menna Elmidany who will be competing in the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, hoping to qualify for the NCAA Championships.".

The Lopes head north to Flagstaff, Ariz. for the NCAA Diving Zone Champions from Mar. 5-7, followed by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America National Invitational Mar. 8-10 in Annapolis, MD.

For more information on GCU Swimming and Diving, follow us on Twitter at @GCU_Swimming and on Instagram at @GCU_Swimndive