Fort Worth, TX, November 7, 2014 – A close battle between the women of Texas Christian University (TCU) and Iowa State University (ISU) came to a thrilling close at the University Rec Center Natatorium in Fort Worth over the weekend. With back and forth point swings throughout the meet, the TCU Horned Frogs were in the lead going into the final relay event; But, the ISU Cyclones would not be stopped on their way to earning the overall team win by a slim margin of 157 – 143.
The Horned Frogs started out strongly, earning first place finishes in five of the first seven events. The relay foursome of Lyndsie Gibson, Devin Newton, Emily Gibson, and Julia Sanders started the meet off right, winning the 200 medley relay in a swift time of 1:44.86. The Cyclones responded immediately, however, with Karyl Clarete’s victory in the 1000 freestyle, winning in a time of 10:13.79.
The 200 freestyle event was won by TCU junior Mikayla Winkler in 1:51.78, while teammates, junior Lyndsie Gibson (56.39) and senior Ashley Alspaugh (56.96) continued the TCU streak by touching 1-2 in the 100 backstroke. However, ISU’s Danica Delaquis (freshman) earned the win in the 100 breaststroke, topping the field in 1:04.93. This win was once again answered immediately by TCU, with Ali Bleasdell and Catherine Rash touching first and second in the 100 butterfly event, clocking 2:04.35 and 2:05.45, respectively.
And, so the meet would go, with back and forth victories on each side of the pool as follows:
50 freestyle – Julia Sanders 23.76 (TCU)
100 freestyle – Amanda Paulson 51.69 (ISU)
200 backstroke – Marissa Engel 2:01.49 (ISU)
200 breaststroke – Kasey Roberts 2:21.04 (ISU)
500 freestyle – Karyl Clarete 4:59.10 (ISU)
100 butterfly – Emily Gibson 55.85 (TCU)
200 IM – Devin Newton 2:04.85 (TCU)
1- and 3- meter diving – Elyse Brouillette (ISU)
That is, until the final 400 freestyle relay, where Cyclone Amanda Paulson blasted a 50.98 anchor to overtake the TCU anchor swimmer to out-touch the Horned Frogs in a winning time of 3:27.63 to TCU’s 3:27.82. This final relay win gave ISU the final advantage to earn the overall team victory, which signifies the Cyclones’ first conference opener win since their 2011-2012 season.
The ISU Cyclone women next visit Lawrence, KS for the Kansas Invitational, which starts on November 21st. The TCU women will participate in the Aggie Invitational set to take place in College Station TX November 20th – 22nd.
