Individual wins highlight road team loss

Saturday, January 22

Riverside, Calif.

11 A.M.

Grand Canyon

115.5

183.5

California Baptist

1/22/2022 4:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

Final Results (PDF)

GCU suffers first defeat of season against CBU

By: Chelsie Davidson

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Grand Canyon men's swimming and diving team fell to California Baptist, 183.5-115.5, on Saturday at Lancer Aquatic Center.

Despite not having the strength of a full roster, the GCU men pulled off some impressive wins against the Lancers.

"It was great to see our athletes compete well as we continue to work our way back into form after dealing with COVID-19 and isolation setbacks," head coach Steve Schaffer said. "Day by day, week by week we are getting better."

Lopes sophomore A.J. Sheppard started the day with a win in the 1,000-yard freestyle, posting a time of 9:49.75.

GCU junior Griffin McKean killed the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:52.94. McKean also finished in the top three in the 200 breaststroke (2:06.90) and the 200 individual medley (1:56.18).

Spainard seniors Adrian Curbelo Tejera and Alonso Carazo Barbero totaled two wins and three second-place finishes for the Lopes.

Curbelo tied for the win in the 100 butterfly with a time of 49.62, alongside CBU's Brendan Man. He also finished second behind McKean in the 200 butterfly.

Barbero swam a 1:53.18 for the win in the 200 individual medley. He also earned a pair of second-place finishes in the 100 (57.64) and 200 (2:06.41) breaststrokes.

The men completed the meet with a down-to-the-wire race as senior Dawson Sloan and CBU's senior Jacob Leahy battled it out in the last leg of the 400 medley relay. A difference of .06 seconds put the Lopes in second after Leahy punched the pad first.

The divers battled a tough group in the Lancers. Sophomore Isaac Poole competed very well against former WAC champion Evan Honer. Poole took home two second-place finishes in the 3-meter with a score of 317.93 points and the 1-meter with 300.45 points.

At 3 meters, classmate Nicholas Gunn placed on the podium in third place with a score of 287.48 points.

"I thought the divers did well today in challenging conditions," head diving coach Hunter Shafer said. "The men were highlighted by two second-place finishes from Isaac Poole. He is on a good track to be very competitive at WAC."

Up next, the Lopes will host UNLV for Senior Day on Feb. 5 at Fr. Edward A. Reese Aquatic Center.