California Baptist Claims First WAC Win

Photo Courtesy: California Baptist Athletics

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — California Baptist University claimed the first Western Athletic Conference win of its new era in a dual at CSU Bakersfield on Saturday. The Lancers knocked off the Roadrunners by six points, 153-147, at the John S. Hillman Memorial Aquatic Center.

CBU brought its dual record to 2-1 on the year, while the Roadrunners start out 0-1. The Lancers take a week off before heading to the Mizzou Invite next on Nov. 15-17.

The Lancers really separated themselves on the boards, as their divers swept the top-four spots in both events.

“What an impressive day for the Lancers,” Dive Coach Jeff Couto said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the team and what they did in this WAC event.”

On the swimming end of things, Emily Longfellow had a hand in three first-place finishes for CBU. She won the 200-yard individual medley in two minutes, 6.54 seconds and the 200 back in 2:08.42.

The junior also swam the third leg of the Lancers’ victorious 200-medley relay. Andrea Laliena, Robin Smallwood and Rita Smirnova were also members of the winning relay team, which posted a time of 1:47.33.

The Lancers swept the top-three spots in the 200 back. Kylie Morrison (2:08.96) and Laliena (2:11.33) took second and third behind Longfellow, who also took second in the 100 back (58.16).

CBU also received a pair of top-four swims each from Rebecca Oviedo, Buse Topcu and Mackenzie Mergel. Oviedo won the 500 freestyle in 5:03.13 and took second in the 200 yard free (1:52.83). Topcu finished fourth in the 500 free (5:09.75) and also grabbed a win in the 1000 free (10:25.10). Mergel continued to impress in the breaststroke events. She won the 100-yard event in 1:06.33 and took second in the 200 (2:23.27).

There were several other important top-three swims from CBU, as every point mattered on Saturday. McKenzie Kelly (24.59) and Rita Smirnova (24.77) took second and third in the 50 free, while Jenna Washburn finished runner-up in the 100 free (53.42).

The Lancers got third-place swims from Morgan Giordano in the 1000 free (10:45.81), Laliena in the 100 back (59.07), Smallwood in the 100 breast (1:07.75) and Alina Jungklaus in the 200 butterfly (2:12.03).

Three individual wins from Brandon Schuster and two others from Scott Tolman helped California Baptist University pick up its second victory over a Western Athletic Conference foe at CSU Bakersfield at the John S. Hillman Memorial Aquatic Center on Saturday.

The Lancers received a number of other highlight performances in their 185-115 win in Bakersfield. It gave CBU its second dual win in as many days, as it improved to 3-0 this season, while the Roadrunners start out 0-1. The Lancers take a week off before heading to the Mizzou Invite Nov. 15-17.

Schuster won all three of his events he swam on Saturday. He won the 200-yard freestyle in one minute, 39.47 seconds, the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:51.90 and the 500 free in 4:36.19. Tolman won both 100 and 200 breaststrokes, with respective times of 55.50 and 2:00.99.

Zane Freeman was impressive on both boards for CBU, as well. The sophomore won the 3-meter event and then took second on 1-meter.

“Zane continues to show his strengths in our first four competitions, and is looking in top form,” Dive Coach Jeff Couto said. “He is extremely consistent and I can always count on him to be in the top of the pack.”

There was plenty of depth for CBU on the day. The Lancers had two other top-four finishers behind Schuster in the 200 free, with Jerome Heidrich in second (1:41.17) and Colton Babcock in fourth (1:41.78).

Tolman (1:54.18), Justin Quiroga (1:54.82) and Adityastha Wratsangka (1:54.84) took third through fifth in the 200 IM. Dylan Sweikert finished runner-up in the 500 free (4:43.81), while Sean Foster took second in the 200 breast (2:06.93) and third in the 100 breast (57.30).

The 200 butterfly was another deep event for CBU. Quiroga won it by half a second (1:51.40) in front of Wratsangka (1:51.90), with freshman David Miller coming in third (1:52.40).

In the 100 free, Jacob Leahy won in 45.87, while Heidrich took third (46.28). Sweikert added another win for CBU in the 1000 free (9:39.16).

The Lancers were victorious in both relays, too. Leahy, Tolman, Quiroga and Josh Walters won the 200-medley relay in 1:31.14. Heidrich, Babcock, Robert Moseley and Walters claimed victory in the 400-free relay (3:04.19).

CBU may not have won the 100 butterfly, but they had the second through fifth-place finishers: Quiroga (49.27), Wratsangka (50.44), Leahy (50.67) and Walters (50.90).

Leahy (49.59) and Moseley (51.21) finished second and third in the 100 back. Moseley also took second in the 200 back (1:51.59), while Matthew Niculae finished third (1:53.98). Heidrich added another runner-up finish for CBU in the 50 free (21.27).

The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with California Baptist Swimming and Diving. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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