Lopes complete 1st MPSF Open Water Championships

Saturday, October 21

Long Beach, Calif.

Grand Canyon

MPSF Open Water Championships

10/21/2023 10:23:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

GCU men, women each take 2nd to get meet's overall win

By: Nathan Peters

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Grand Canyon swimming team made history by winning the overall title at the first MPSF Open Water Championships, where the Lopes' men's and women's teams each took second place.

On the GCU men's side, Atu Ambala, Vitaly Kostin, and Joe Stephenson each completed the the 5-kilometer event. Kostin finished with a time of 59 minutes, 52 seconds.

In the women's 5K, the Lopes were represented by Aleksandra Wegrzynowska, Krisalyn Henderson, Maria Chatzi and Bryn McGinnis. Wegrzynowska was the top finisher from GCU with a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes, 30 seconds to take 13th out of 42 entrants.

The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) hosted the single-day Open Water Swimming Championship at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California. GCU associate head coach Chris O'Linger. who sits on the coaches board for the event, took first in his age class and fourth overall in the 1K Masters event. Head coach Steve Schaffer also completed the 1K event.

In addition to the athletes and coaches competing in the individual races, the men and women competed in the relays.

The GCU women took second out of 11 teams with a time of 26:35.

All results can be found here from the event.

Next up, the Lopes will head to Air Force on Nov. 3 for a dual meet.