Meet Facts
- Women: Grand Canyon Vs. New Mexico State 185-115 / New Mexico State vs. UTPB 249-37 / Grand Canyon vs UTPB 237-44
- Men: Grand Canyon vs. UTPB 226 – 68
- October 15th, 2016
Grand Canyon University Press Release
The Grand Canyon University swimming and diving program walked away with three victories at the first meet on Saturday, with both teams dominating UTPB 226-68 on the men’s side and 237-44 on the women’s. The women’s team also outscored fellow WAC rival New Mexico State 185-115.
The women stepped up this weekend and shined, winning all but one event. Estela Davis Ortiz snagged two first place finishes in the 100-(56.28) and. 200-yd back (2:02.21) in addition to a first place finish in the 100-yd butterfly (56.44).
The Lopes also earned the top three spots in the 50- and 100-yd freestyle events. Jovanna Koens finished first in both, with times of 24.08 in the 50-yd free and 52.81 in the 100-yd free.
“This was an absolutely fantastic showing by our women’s team,” Head Coach Steve Schaffer said. “After two tough losses to NM State last year, we wanted to come away with a win today and we exceeded our own expectations.”
The freshman had some stellar first place performances as well, including Elisha Walker in the 1000-yd freestyle (10:44.01), Rebecca Håkansson in the 200-yd IM (2:08.44) and the 200- (1:55.34) and 500-yd freestyle (5:11.91) and Alyssa Christianson in the 200-yd butterfly (2:09.40) as well as the 200-yd breaststroke (2:19.55).
On the men’s side, one of the Lopes’ newest recruits, Bogdan Plavin, is proving to be an excellent addition, finishing first in both the 50- (20.75) and 100-yd freestyle (46.52).
One of the Lopes top performers last season, Mark Nikolaev, didn’t miss a beat in the water, claiming three individual titles and a first place finish in the 200-yd medley relay (1:33.84) along with Jackson Buyers, Nathon Burwick and Daniel Pope.
The Grand Canyon diving team swept all their events for the first time. Leading the Lopes was Menna Elmidany whose shown tremendous improvement, setting a new team record in the 3-meter dive with a score of 253.35 and finishing first in the 1-meter dive (251.45).
“We have a long way to go, but we are off to a really good start,” Schaffer added.
The Lopes have a recovery week ahead before travelling to Seattle U for a two-day meet on Friday, Oct. 28 – Saturday, Oct. 29.
New Mexico State Press Release
New Mexico State swimming and diving fell to Western Athletic Conference foe Grand Canyon 188.0-112.0 and downed University of Texas of the Permian Basin 249.0-37.0 to open the 2016-17 season on Saturday at the NM State Swimming and Diving Complex.
“Today was a tough lost to a very good GCU team,” said head coach Rick Pratt. “We had some great moments and efforts, but overall we just didn’t find the wall first on several close races that should have gone our way. We also dealt with some illness and a couple swimmers who were not cleared in time to race. We’re going to be better as the semester goes, but our turns and details have to get better.”
In the 3m dive, sophomore Raina Brommer finished second with a score of 232.40. JuniorAbigail Watson finished third with a score of 202.30. Junior Sheridan Decker finished fifth with a score of 198.20.
In the 200 yard Medley Relay, the team of junior Georgia Brown, sophomore Lauren Wood, freshman Reagan Nentwich and freshman Sina Wegel combined to finish second with a time of 1:48.54. The team of sophomore Lanie McAlpin, sophomore Hanna McGowan, freshman Makena Sutherland and freshman Johanna Petterson combined to finish third with a time of 1:48.58.
In the 1000 yard Freestyle, freshman Grace Laporte finished second with a time of 10:47.36. Freshman Lilly Araujo finished third with a time of 10:54.25. Senior Natalie French finished fourth in 10:56.83.
In the 200 yard Free, junior Picabo Bender came in second with a time of 1:55.39. Right behind her was sophomore Barbora Krizanova in third with a time of 1:59.91. In fourth was Lily Araujo with a time of 1:59.98.
In the 100 yard Backstroke, Johanna Petterson finished third with a time of 59.40. Georgia Brown finished fourth in 59.73. Junior Gabrielle Sanchez finished fifth with a time of 1:00.12.
Lauren Wood won the 100 yard Breastroke with a time of 1:05.32. Hanna McGowan finished second in 1:07.32. Senior Logan Morris finished sixth with a time of 1:10.66.
In the 200 yard Butterfly, Lanie McAplin finished third with a time of 2:10.54. Natalie Frenchfinished fourth in 2:13.27. Sophomore Rachel Langone came in fifth with a time of 2:15.99.
In the 50 yard Free, Makena Sutherland finished third with a time of 25.42. SophomoreAimee Hatfield finished fourth in 25.52. Sina Wegel finished sixth with a time of 25.53.
In the 1m dive, Raina Brommer finished second with a score of 249.85. Abigail Watsonfinished third with a score of 240.65. Sophomore Katie Nissle finished sixth with a score of 205.40.
In the 100 yard Free, Picabo Bender finished fourth with a time of 54.61. Grace Laportefinished fifth in 54.86. Sina Wegel finished sixth with a time of 54.91.
In the 200 yard Back, Johanna Petterson finished second with a time of 2:06.43. Lanie McAlpin finished fourth with a time of 2:09.48. Gabrielle Sanchez finished fifth with a time of 2:09.84.
In the 200 yard Breast, Lauren Wood finished second with a time of 2:22.22. Hanna McGowan finished third in 2:26.45. Barbora Krizanova finished fifth with a time of 2:28.04.
In the 500 yard Free, Picabo Bender finished third with a time of 5:14.15. Grace Laportefinished fourth in 5:14.36. Lilly Araujo finished fifth with a time of 5:15.25.
In the 100 yard Fly, Reagan Nentwich finished second with a time of 59.89. Rachel Langonefinished fourth in 1:01.07. Makena Sutherland finished with a time of 59.94.
In the 200 yard IM, Barbora Krizanova finished second with a time of 2:13.89. Lauren Woodfinished third with a time of 2:14.53. Lanie McAlpin finished sixth with a time of 2:15.70.
In the 400 yard Free Relay, the team of Sina Wegel, Picabo Bender, Georgia Brown and Johanna Petterson combined for a second place finish with a time of 3:37.11. The team ofGrace Laporte, Makena Sutherland, Lilly Araujo and freshman Ashley Reynolds combined for third with a time of 3:42.17.
The Aggies are back in action on Oct. 22 as they host CSU-Pueblo in a dual meet. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. at the NM State Swimming and Diving Complex.
