Drexel vs. La Salle
- Oct. 25, 2019
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Men: Drexel 180-117
- Women: Drexel 194.5-99.5
- Results
Courtesy: Drexel Athletics
PHILADELPHIA – Drexel men’s and women’s swimming and diving started off the 2019-20 season on the right foot with a sweep of city rival La Salle. The women’s team nearly doubled up the Explorers, 194.5-99.5, while the men enjoyed a 180-117 victory.
All told, the Dragons won 21 contested events on Friday. The men’s team swept every contested singles event.
“Tonight was a great first step towards our ultimate goals at he end of the year,” head swimming coach Adam Braun said. “I am really happy with the energy and effort from the entire team. I am also looking forward to seeing how the team responds tomorrow as we travel to Seton Hall, who has been racing well this year.”
Friday started with a pair of wins in the 200 medley relay. The team of Alexa Kutch, Megan Sicinski, Lera Nasedkina and Alicia Diaz combined for a time of 1:45.62. On the men’s side, Jason Arthur, Zachary Valenzuela, Paris Raptis and John Scully clocked in at 1:32.51.
Kutch swept both backstroke events to up her win total to three. She touched the wall at 56.59 in the 100 back as the Dragons finished first through third in the event. In the 200 back, she won with nearly a full second to spare – finishing at 2:03.67.
Sicinski added a second win in the 200 breast, edging out teammate Gabrielle Rudy with a time of 2:21.36. Drexel had the top-three placers in the race.
In her Drexel debut, Nasedkina tied for first in the 100 fly. She and Emily Wolbert touched the wall at 59.35.
Diaz topped the field in the 100 free with a time of 53.16.
Arthur swept the backstroke events as well. He turned in a time of 50.93 in the 100 back while finishing the 200 back in 1:52.21.
Valenzuela added two wins in the breaststroke. He won the 200 breast with nearly three seconds to spare, turning in a time of 2:07.88. He also cruised to victory in the 100 breast, touching the wall at 57.92.
A third Dragon, Paris Raptis, swept the butterfly events. He finished over two seconds ahead of the field in the 200 fly at 1:50.17. His margin was even larger in the 100 fly, where he finished in 48.67.
Scully edged out teammate Kiran Richardson to win the 50 free. The Horsham, Pa. native turned in a time of 21.25 to best Richardson’s mark of 21.28.
Including Nasedkina, four Drexel debutants won events in their first meet for the Dragons. Ryann Styer topped Nasedkina in the 50 free, winning the event with a time of 24.51. A pair of freshmen, Maddie Riley and Jake McBride, won two events apiece.
Riley took first place in the 1000 and 500 free, winning the 500 free by one-tenth of a second. The native of Austin, Texas touched the wall at 5:08.87 in the 500 free. The 1000 free would be no contest as Riley finished with a time of 10:28.67 – some seven seconds faster than the closest competitor.
McBride followed the lead of his fellow freshman with wins in the 1000 and 500 free as well – dominating the field in both races. He finished close to a full two seconds faster than the field in the 500 free with a time of 4:44.75. In the 1000 free, McBride touched the wall at 9:50.09, over eight seconds faster than the second-place swimmer.
Not to be outdone by the youngbloods, Stathis Malamas swept his freestyle events. The senior won the 200 free by over a minute, finishing at 1:41.67. The 100 free would be closer, but Malamas still emerged the victor with a time of 45.98.
Rudy took first place in the 100 breast with a time of 1:04.06 as the Dragons finished first, second and third in the race.
On the boards, Becca Demaree claimed first place by a razor-thin margin. Demaree scored a 268.88, just .23 points ahead of second place.
The Dragons face a quick turnaround as they compete at Seton Hall on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Courtesy: La Salle Athletics
PHILADELPHIA – After a few weeks of practice in between meets, men’s swimming and diving was back in the pool on Friday against City 6 rivals Drexel. The Explorers fell to the Dragons 180-117.
MEET NOTES
- Sophomore Steven Stasolla picked up a first-place finish in the 1-meter dive, followed by freshman Sam Henninger in second. Henninger would later claim the top spot in the 3-meter event.
- A few Explorers had multiple strong races on the night. Senior Norm Gregory placed second in the 100 and 200 Free, while sophomore Ian Venter took silver in the 100 and 200 Back. Classmate Zachary Wolbert also had a pair of second-place finishes in the 100 and 200 Fly.
- Freshman watch: In addition to Henninger’s placing, rookie Cole Dyson had a good showing in West Philly by touching second in the 1000 Free and third in the 500 Free.
- Another top-two time for the men came in the 200 Breast as senior Christoff Ras claimed silver, while classmate Marcus Forsgren also took second in the 100 Breast.
UP NEXT
Another early-season test awaits La Salle next weekend as they take the trip to Ohio for the Atlantic 10 Classic.
Women’s swimming and diving was back in action on Friday, falling to Drexel 194.5-99.5. There were a few top swims for the women, including three first-place finishes.
MEET NOTES
- Senior Emily Wolbert was the headliner of the night for the women’s team as she took gold in two events: the 200 Fly and 100 Fly. The latter time is notable because she shared the spoils, finishing in a tie.
- Sophomore Sara Rizzetto beat all swimmers in the 200 Free with a time of 1:54.76, while also placing second in the 200 Back.
- Another solid performance came from sophomore Anne Moser who finished second in both the 500 and 1000 Free.
- Freshman watch: Brynn Peterson had a solid day, highlighted by a second-place result in the 100 Free.
- On the boards, sophomore Phoebe Shaya placed second in the 3-meter dive with a score of 268.65.
UP NEXT
The Explorers will get a true barometer of where they’re at this early in the season as they head to Geneva, Ohio next weekend for the Atlantic 10 Classic.
