Irvine Novaquatics Claims Inaugural Big 10 Stampede Meet Title

Big 10 Stampede 

Location:
Lewisville ISD Westside Aquatic Center
1750 Duncan Lane
Lewisville, Texas 75028

Short course prelims/long course finals

Teams:
Lakeside Aquatic Club, The Woodlands Swim Team, Loveland Swim Club, Rose Bowl Aquatics, Irvine Novaquatics, Sandpipers of Nevada, Colorado Springs Swim Team, Tampa Bay Aquatics, Rancho San Diego Dieguito, and North Texas Nadadores.

When:
Feb 26th – Mar 1^st
Irvine Novaquatics claimed the team title in the inaugural Big 10 Stampede Meet that was held February 26^th– March 1^st in Lewisville, Texas. NOVA not only claimed the combined title (1248), but they also ended up with the most points in the Men’s (574) and Women’s (674) standings. This meet featured 9 of the top teams in the country and showcased some fierce competition throughout.

With achieving the win, Irvine Novaquatics had a lot of impressive swims. Jeri Marshburn, head coach at NOVA, highlighted the following swims from her team-

• Carly Perri finished first in the 200 meter fly with her 2:17.20 (Summer Junior National Cut). During the meet, Perri also achieve a Summer Junior National Cut in the 100 meter fly (1:02.45), a Winter Junior National cut in the 100 back (55.69 prelims, 1:04.59 finals), and a bonus cut with her 2:03.36 in the 200 meter back.
• Harvard Commit Meagan Popp swam 11 best times during the course of the meet. This was highlighted by her win in the 200 meter breaststroke (2:34.53) and 2^nd place 200 meter IM (2:19.40).
• 2014 Youth Olympics Games participant Courtney Mykkanen won the 200 meter back by over two seconds (2:16.97) and finished first in the 100 back (1:03.13)
• Stephen Marcin swam an incredible 1:52.23 in his 200 meter free to claim the win and finish a mere .4 off the Olympic Trials cut.
• Erik Juliusson won the 200 IM in a US Open qualifying time (2:05.69).

The first night of the meet featured the 200 meter medley relay, 800 free, and 200 meter free relay. In a tight race, the NOVA girls swam to the victory (1:59.88) over Loveland Swim Club (1:59.88). The boy’s version of this relay also featured a close finish with Tampa Bay Aquatics (1:47.57) out touching Loveland (1:47.72). Erin Emery (SAND) then had an incredible 800 free (8:45.94) to claim the victory over Eryn Eddy (LOVE, 8:49.44).

Next up, Logan Houck (SAND) won the 800 meter freestyle by over six seconds with his 8:12.76. Closing out the night, the 200 meter free relays were won by the Rose Bowl Aquatics girls (1:47.51) and the North Texas Nadadores boys (1:35.93).

Friday night featured the first night of long course finals where swimmers had to qualify from short course morning preliminary swims. Individual long course winners included LAC’s Lauren Pitzer (200 meter free, 2:02.17), NOVA’s Stephan Marcin (200 meter free, 1:52.23), ROSE’s Kirsten Vose (100 breaststroke, 1:11.99), Brody Lewis (100 breaststroke, 1:05.18), NOVA’s Courtney Mykkannen (100 back, 1:03.13), LAC’s Brendan Feehery (100 back, 56.92 and 400 IM, 4:31.78), and TBAY’s Christin Rockway (400 IM, 4:49.56). This fast night of individual races was then capped off with the 800 meter free relay. The girls of The Woodlands Swim Team finished six seconds ahead of runner-up NOVA with their 8:27.08. In an opposite finish, the NOVA boys finished over two seconds ahead TWST with their 7:45.28.

There were several swimmers throughout the meet that ended up with multiple wins. LAC’s sprinting superstar, Lauren Pitzer, won both the 50 meter free (25.97) and 100 meter free (56.40). At only 14 years old Tampa Bay Aquatics’ Christin Rockway was still able to step up and win the 100 fly (1:02.39) and 200 IM (2:19.05). Rose Bowl Aquatics’ Liam McCloskey was able to sweep the fly events with his 55.67 100 meter fly and 2:05.01 200 meter fly.

Other Individual Winner Included-

• LAC’s Brendan Feehery (200 back, 2:04.01)
• Colorado Springs’ Hunter Doerr (50 free, 23.44)
• Loveland’s Brody Lewis (200 breaststroke, 2:22.51)
• SAND’s Bowe Becker (100 free, 52.38)

Final Combined Team Scores

1. Irvine Novaquatics- 1443
2. Lakeside Aquatic Club- 944.50
3. Loveland Swim Club-727
4. Rose Bowl Aquatics- 722
5. Sandpipers of Nevada-706
6. The Woodlands Swim Team- 678
7. Tampa Bay Aquatics- 461
8. North Texas Nadadores-442
9. Colorado Springs Aquatics-273