U of Michigan, WVU Shine at 2015 Orange Bowl Classic

The Orange Bowl Classic takes place each year in Key Largo, Florida, a location home to many swim teams on their winter training trips. This year, six teams met at the Jacobs Aquatic Center to compete in this short course meters swim meet, which included 50s of stroke. These six teams were the University of Michigan, West Virginia University, the University of Vermont, George Mason University, Saint Leo University, and Northern Michigan University. This year, the University of Michigan dominated the women’s meet, and the men’s meet belonged to West Virginia University.

The West Virginia Mountaineer men won eight events this afternoon at the Orange Bowl Classic. In the men’s 100 fly, WVU went 1-2-3, led by Andrew Marsh in 56.20. Marsh went on to also win the 100 backstroke for the Mountaineers in a time of 56.22. WVU also went 1-2-3 in the Men’s 100 SCM breaststroke, with Max Spencer leading the way in 1:05.31.

In the women’s 100 SCM backstroke, the Michigan women posted a 1-2-3 finish. Clara Smiddy won in 1:01.44, setting a new Orange Bowl Classic record. She was chased by teammates Claudia Lau (1:02.83) and Kayla Douglas (1:04.60). The Michigan women also had a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 SCM freestyle. Claudia Goswell took first in 57.84, followed by Gabby DeLoof (58.13) and Sharalynn Missiuna (59.15).

In the women’s 200 medley relay, Michigan’s A and B took the top two spots. The A relay of Ali DeLoof, Emily Kopas, Zoe Mattingly, and Smiddy posted the top time of 1:55.04. They were over three seconds ahead of Michigan’s second place B relay team. West Virgina’s A relay of Marsh, Max Spencer, Chase Williams, and Ross Glegg won the men’s 200 medley relay, finishing ahead of Saint Leo’s A relay and B relay. In the women’s 200 SCM freestyle relay, Michigan’s A and B relays took first and second, with the A relay of Maddy Frost, DeLoof, Mattingly, and Smiddy touching in 1:45.74. Saint Leo’s A relay took first in the men’s 200 SCM freestyle relay in 1:32.72, exactly one second ahead of WVU’s A relay.

All of the new Orange Bowl Classic records set at the meet today belong to the women’s team of Michigan:

400 SCM freestyle – Gillian Ryan (Michigan) 4:14.80
50 SCM butterfly – Ali DeLoof (Michigan) 28.02
100 SCM backstroke – Clara Smiddy (Michigan) 1:01.44
50 SCM freestyle – Maddy Frost (Michigan) 26.26

FINAL SCORES –

Women’s Teams:
1. University of Michigan
2. West Virginia University
3. University of Vermont
4. George Mason University
5. Saint Leo University
6. Northern Michigan University

Men’s Teams:
1. West Virginia University
2. Saint Leo University
3. George Mason University