UBC vs Seattle U
- January 19, 2024
- Seattle, Wash.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: UBC Athletics
SEATTLE – The UBC Thunderbirds men’s and women’s swimming teams shook off any remaining holiday racing rust Friday afternoon as they ventured south of the border to meet the Seattle University Redhawks in a dual meet at the Redhawk Center.
Although there’s been plenty of intense training sessions since the calendar flipped to 2024, Friday afternoon counted as the T-Birds first official racing action of the new year and first since the Canada West Swimming Championships in Calgary in late November where the ‘Birds women’s team captured the gold medal and the men’s squad claimed the silver medal. Although it wasn’t a flawless meet for the visitors the blue and gold have plenty of positives to take away from their 2024 racing debut that saw them win most of the events on both the men’s and women’s side while also setting at least five pool records in the process.
“Our team has been working very hard for the past three weeks so, of course, we looked somewhat tired today,” said UBC Thunderbirds head coach Derrick Schoof. “However, we raced hard and really pushed our limits. There is always lots to learn from racing. And racing a new team in a yard’s pool was lots of fun. With seven-weeks to the U SPORTS Championships we still have some more hard work to do before it’s time to taper for peak performances and I am confident that we will be ready when the time comes.”
Following the meet the T-Birds traveled north up the I-5 in order to return home for a quick turnaround as they’re set to host the UBC Winter Warm-Up (long course meters) meet which gets underway at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning at the UBC Aquatic Centre. The T-Birds will welcome eight teams to the UBC Campus including the University of Victoria, West Vancouver Otters, Langley Olympians, Surrey Knights, Pacific Sea Wolves, Richmond Rapids and Vancouver Pacific.
Courtesy: Seattle U Athletics
SEATTLE – Seattle U men’s and women’s swimming closed out their 2023-24 home slate when they hosted British Columbia Friday night at the Redhawk Center. The men’s team fell to the Thunderbirds with a final score of 116-123, while the women dropped the meet 56-199. The Redhawks combined to win eight races on the day as they also celebrated their senior class.
“This afternoon was a great event,” said head coach Joe Dykstra. “I’m so proud of our seniors as they closed out their last home meet, and proud of the team and staff overall.”
The Redhawks swept the 200 Fly on the day, with Nohea Kamauu (2:09.92) and Keanu Lee (1:53.15) both getting wins. SU also doubled-up the 200 Freestyle Relay with the women’s team (1:37.37) of Amanda Miller, Sammy Mosier, Mia David, and Aubrey Cheng and the men’s team (1:24.10) of Cole Lanting, Michael Luna, Hawkins Wendt, and Nicholas Imig both secure victories.
Lanting added to his standout day by also placing first in the 100 Yard Freestyle (45.72). Other race winners were; Brendan Ryan (100 Breast, 56.33), Danielis Kvederis (200 Back, 1:50.94), and Jaxon Gonzales (200 Breast, 2:02.85).
“To take the number of wins we did against such high level competition gives me enormous confidence in what we are doing to keep getting better incrementally,” Dykstra added. “I’m very grateful to UBC for coming down and giving us this level of challenge and congratulate them on the many pool records they set today. The future of Seattle U Swimming is bright when we can confidently compete with a squad of that level”
Next up for both teams will be a trip to Colorado on Friday, Jan. 26, when they compete in the two-day Air Force/Denver Spring Meet. That will be followed by the WAC Championships starting Feb. 28, in Pharr, Texas.
