Cal Poly vs UC Santa Cruz
- January 27, 2024
- Santa Cruz, Calif.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: Cal Poly Athletics
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — In its final road dual of the season, the Cal Poly men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams rolled to dual victories over UC Santa Cruz on Saturday, capturing a total of 30 event victories.
The Cal Poly men won all 16 events en route to a commanding 237-60 win over the Banana Slugs, while the women secured 14 event wins and earned a dominant 224-69 triumph over Division III UCSC. Overall, the Mustangs swept the top three places in 18 different events and two new top-five marks in program history were recorded.
Seven athletes grabbed two event victories, led by sophomore Drew Huston, and freshmen Justin Dolezal and Rhian Neitzel (pictured above). Huston took first in both the men’s 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke, and swam legs on Cal Poly’s first-place 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Huston is the school record holder in the men’s 100 back and No. 2 all-time in the 200 back.
Dolezal won the men’s 1-meter dive with a personal best score of 338.48, soaring to No. 2 all-time in program history in the event. The San Luis Obispo native also placed first in the 3-meter dive with a personal best of 321.45 to remain at No. 5 in school history in the event.
Neitzel broke into the top marks list in the women’s 200 breaststroke, swimming the fifth-fastest time in program history (2:18.66) to win the event in the dual. She also captured the top spot in the 400 individual medley.
Senior Sean Keegan (men’s 50 free, 500 free), sophomores Mac Follmer (men’s 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly) and Alex Seybold (men’s 100 breast, 200 breast), and freshman Olivia Sundgren (women’s 500 free, 1000 free) all grabbed two event victories as well.
Senior Briana Medvecki won the women’s 1-meter dive with a personal best score of 292.13 to remain at No. 2 on Cal Poly’s all-time list in the event. Seniors Kelly McDermott (200 back) and Alexa Porter (200 free), juniors Summer Cheng (100 fly), Sarah Jacobson (100 back) and Taylor Lyon (200 fly), sophomores Melia Costa (100 breast) and Jen Reiter (100 free) and freshman Shayna Gayer (3-meter dive) all secured first-place finishes individually. The women won the 200 medley relay as well.
On the men’s side, seniors Joshua Billotte (1000 free) and Ryan Trichler (400 IM), junior Evan O’Connell (100 free) and sophomore Nick Elliott (200 free) all earned first-place finishes.
Cal Poly returns home to host Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 3, for its final regular season meet. The meet at the Anderson Aquatic Center is scheduled to start at noon and the Mustangs will honor their nine seniors prior.
Courtesy: UC Santa Cruz Athletics
It was the last home meet for sixteen student-athletes. The Banana Slugs celebrating their last time at the East Pool were Joel Akey, Jonathan Andrews, Jimmy Costello, Pia Davila, Daniel Fuentes, Judah Good, Maddy Gruender, Trayton Heinzen, Andrew Keidel, Kate Kramer, Sarah Krawczyk, Emerald Kwang, Marie Luquet, Ethan Porter, Brecken Theders and Quincy Timmerman.
The Banana Slugs won two events on Saturday. Coralie Norenberg and Tereza Shea placed first and second in the 50 Free Sprint, and also winning was the women’s 400 Free Relay of Norenberg, Gruender, Shea and Kaitlyn Armstrong.
“It was a heartwarming day where we got the opportunity to honor our 16 graduating seniors,” said head coach Matt Crawford. “We had a great meet against a D1 opponent. Coralie Norenberg was the lone individual even winner today, winning the 50 free in a time of 24.80. Maddy Gruender’s 200 free was also a standout on the women’s side, as was Honour Dufresne’s 1000 free. Honour is the first Slug to break the 11:00 barrier this season. And the women’s 400 free relay won by two body lengths, putting down the 6th fastest time in program history, and the fastest ever done in practice suits.”
Standouts on the men’s side included Charlie Hussain going 47.33 in the 100 free, a lifetime best. Morgan Madril was a runner up in the 100 Fly with a time of 50.65.
“Morgan’s 100 fly was outstanding, with the closest any of the Slugs came to a first place finish today,” Crawford said. “And finally, Judah Good’s last 400 IM in his home pool is a season best.”
The Banana Slugs will compete next at the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference championship in Los Angeles February 14-17.
Cal Poly’s program has really turned around under the new coach. they had a 5-1 record in dual meets – huge improvement over their single victory last year!