Team effort leads Lopes past Rebels

Saturday, February 5

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 A.M.

Grand Canyon

150

147

UNLV

2/5/2022 4:53:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

GCU wins final home meet on Senior Day

By: Chelsie Davidson

The Grand Canyon men's swimming and diving team finished its regular season with a 150-147 win over UNLV on Senior Day at Fr. Edward A. Reese Aquatic Center.

GCU seniors Kainan De Jesus, Dylan Nasser, Alonso Carazo Barbero, Mazen Shoukri were recognized and helped contribute to their final dual of the season.

"Both the men and women swam very well today," Lopes head coach Steve Schaffer said. "UNLV is an excellent team and gave us a very good last opportunity to race as we prepare for the WAC Championships in 2 1/2 weeks. We just wrapped up our peak cycle of training and despite being tired, we had a lot of impressive swims."

The Lopes opened the meet up with a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay, posting a time of one minute and 29.66 seconds.

Individually, it was a close meet with the Lopes earning six wins and 23 top-three finishes against the Rebels.

The teams were tied at 122-122 during the final break with only three events left to score.

A disqualification in the 200-yard freestyle relay appeared to be a setback for the Lopes, but GCU's sophomore diving duo put the Lopes on top.

Isaac Poole won the 1-meter event with a total of 320.03 points and the 3-meter competition with a score of 320.93. Classmate Nicholas Gunn earned second place at 1 meter with 271.13 points and scored 277.88 in the 3-meter event.

"I thought the divers did well all around," Lopes head coach Hunter Shafer said. "The men went one-two on both boards with Isaac continuing to compete well all season. Nick had one of his best meets of the season and should be ready to go for WAC in a few weeks."

Sophomore sprinter Jack Armstrong led the team with three wins in the 50 (20.02) and 100 freestyles (43.93) and the 100 butterfly (48.55).

Senior Kainan De Jesus swam a 50.27 for the victory in the 100 backstroke.

Junior Griffin McKean won the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:49.84 and took second with a season best in the 400 individual medley (4:01.10).

GCU junior Mikhail Lyubavskiy swam a 3:59.49 in the 400 individual medley for the win. Lyubavskiy took home second in the 1,650 freestyle, posting a time of 15:51.19.

Jacob Folsom, Amir Haviv, Dawson Sloan, Samuel McKenzie, Sam Jennings and Ian Shultz also produced great results for the Lopes.

"Now it's time to start unloading and resting," Schaffer stated. "Hopefully, everyone can stay healthy. It will be a very competitive WAC Championships for both the women and the men."

Up next, the Lopes will prepare for the WAC Championships on Feb. 23-26 in Houston.