Lopes finds success in dominant home showing - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Saturday, October 31

Phoenix, Ariz.

10:30 a.m.

Grand Canyon

185

Arizona Christian

Results

10/31/2026 5:07:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

GCU teams go 4-1 in dual meets Saturday

By: Tyler Yarbrough

PHOENIX — GCU swimming and diving turned in a strong showing at home Saturday, with the men's team sweeping its dual-meet competition and the women's team earning two victories against Arizona Christian and Ottawa University Arizona at the Fr. Edward A. Reese Aquatic Center.

The Lopes' men defeated Arizona Christian 185-48 and Ottawa 181-43, while the women topped Arizona Christian 234-40 and Ottawa 235-33. GCU's women also competed against Washington State, falling 205-88.

The men's team controlled much of the meet, collecting multiple individual victories and sweeping several events. Senior Guillermo Carrey and graduate student Jack Luken led the way with two individual wins apiece.

Carrey took first in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 48.51 seconds before adding another victory in the 200 individual medley in 1:48.82. Freshman Steph Omelchenko (48.91) and sophomore Ben Madson (49.88) followed Carrey in the backstroke, giving GCU a sweep of the top three spots.

Luken led another GCU sweep in the 200 freestyle, touching first in 1:40.38 ahead of freshmen Samuele Vianello (1:41.09) and Carter Rankin (1:41.35). Luken also claimed the 500 freestyle title in 4:32.47.

Junior Batu Servi added a victory in the 1,000 freestyle, finishing in 9:42.07, while freshman Nir Hay won the 50 freestyle in 20.81. Omelchenko also earned a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle, clocking 46.15.

The Lopes continued their success in the 100 butterfly as senior Jasu Ovaskainen finished first in 47.77, followed by graduate student Pawel Uryniuk (48.01) and sophomore Evan Niemeyer (50.60). Uryniuk also won the 100 breaststroke in 56.21, with freshman Hayden Beckley taking second in 57.08.

GCU's men opened the meet with a close finish in the 200 medley relay. Beckley, Uryniuk, freshman Guy Biton and Luken secured first place in 1:31.08, just ahead of another Lopes relay that finished in 1:31.14.

The men's team also claimed the 200 freestyle relay as Madson, Niemeyer, Ovaskainen and Beckley combined for a first-place finish in 1:23.55, giving GCU victories in both relay events.

On the women's side, junior Beth Young highlighted the swimming competition with a victory in the 100 breaststroke, finishing in 1:02.17. Junior Taylor Stasny added a runner-up finish in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:18.33.

Sophomore Katelyn Huffman placed third in the 50 freestyle at 23.78, while sophomore Sara Mendoza finished fourth in the 200 freestyle in 1:53.12. Freshman Irene Carrey also recorded fourth-place finishes in both the 100 and 200 backstroke.

The women's 200 medley relay team of Carrey, Young, Stasny and Huffman placed second in 1:43.59, providing another strong finish against Washington State.

GCU's women also found success on the diving boards, sweeping the top three positions in both events. Junior Brooke Woeslaw won the 1-meter competition with 211.90 points, narrowly ahead of sophomore Kiley Thrush (207.30) and junior Hailey Cate Bull (205.10).

Senior Lucinda Harrison took first in the 3-meter competition with 227.80 points, followed closely by Woeslaw (226.65) and Thrush (222.50).

The Lopes finished Saturday's competition with four dual-meet victories and several top finishes across both teams.