The Rice Owls won each of the six events on Monday to close out a three-day sweep of each of the 18 swim events at the annual Incarnate Word Invitational in San Antonio.
Rice won each of the five swim events on opening round of the meet on Saturday, followed seven wins Sunday and the final six races held Monday. With all the time on the top of the medal stand the Owls coasted to a comfortable win in the team standings with 1,392 points. Invitational host Incarnate Word was second with 882 points while TCU was third (750 points). Conference USA foe North Texas was fourth (281 points) after competing only on the first of the three days.
“We had a great weekend of racing, holiday cheer, and team camaraderie,” said Rice head coach Seth Huston, now in his 16th year at the helm of the program.
Not only did Rice win all six races Monday, the Owls went at least 1-2 in each of the events including both the A and B squads entered in the 400-freestyle relay (3:31.43). Junior Alicia Caldwell won the 200-yard backstroke with a season-best 1:58.32 and also claimed the 100-freestyle with a steady 50.72. Owl record-holder Marie-Claire Schillinger was an easy winner in the 200-breaststroke (2:12.21), as was Hanna Huston in the mile (16:48.47). Junior Kaitlin Benjamin (2:05.56) came from behind to win a dramatic 200-butterfly over teammate Kiley Beall (2:06.24).
“Next up is family time and training on their own,” coach Huston added. “We will meet in San Diego to train and compete into the New Year.”