Blue beat out gold in the season opening intrasquad at Akron on Friday. Ragen Engel took a 50 free win in her first ever college meet. She also finished 2nd behind senior Ashley Niznik in the 100 free.
AKRON, Ohio – The two-time MAC champions, Akron women’s swimming and diving team was back in the water for the first time of the 2015-16 season for its annual intrasquad meet at the Ocasek Natatorium on Friday, Sept. 25.
“It was fun to watch our team in action tonight. They did a great job competing and cheering for each other,” said head coach Brian Peresie. “This is the starting point for the season and we will only look to improve from here. Our team is very motivated and ready to tackle the challenges of a new season.”
After 12 events, the Blue team topped team Gold by a score of 120-104 to take the intrasquad crown.
In the first event of the season, the relay team for team Blue, made up of senior Erin Seiler, junior Luka Szynal, and sophomore’s Paloma Marrero Munoz, and Susan Franz took first place in the 200 Medley Relay.
Two freshmen, Ragen Engel and Sadie Fazekas led the Gold team in the 50 Freestyle to take first and second place.
The Blue team had a strong showing in the next three events taking first place in the 200 IM, the three-meter dive and the 100 Butterfly. The team was led by Marrero-Munoz (200 IM), junior Paige Kelkenberg (three-meter) and Seiler (100 Fly).
In the 100 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke, the Gold team took control of the results. Senior Ashley Niznik and Engel finished one-two in the 100 Free for team gold and junior Laura Savariau and Fazekas led the team in the 100 Back.
In the final four events each team went back-and-forth trading wins in the 400 Freestyle (Blue), 100 Breaststroke (Gold), one-meter dive (Blue) and the 200 Freestyle (Gold).
The Zips will continue the regular season next on Oct. 16, when the team competes in the Tom Stubbs Relays in Bowling, Green Ohio.
Event Order | Event | Winner/Team
Event 1 – 200 Medley Relay – Seiler, Szynal, Marrero Munoz, Franz (Blue)
Event 2 – 200 Freestyle – Myers (Blue)
Event 3 – 50 Freestyle – Engel (Gold)
Event 4 – 200 IM – Marrero Munoz (Blue)
Event 5 – 3-Meter Diving – Kelkenberg (Blue)
Event 6 – 100 Butterfly – Seiler (Blue)
Event 7 – 100 Freestyle – Engel (Gold)
Event 8 – 100 Backstroke – Savariau (Gold)
Event 9 – 400 Freestyle – King (Blue)
Event 10 – 100 Breaststroke – Marrero Munoz (Gold)
Event 11 – 1-Meter Diving – Hottensmith (Gold)
Event 12 – 200 Freestyle Relay – Savariau, Fazekas, Niznik, Engel (Gold)
Swimming news courtesy of Akron Swimming & Diving.