SWIMMING ROUNDUP: Results from Divisional Championships
THIRD PLACE FINISH FOR GRYPHONE MEN & WOMEN AT DIVISIONALS
The Gryphon swimming team hosted the Divisional Championships this past weekend at the W.F. Mitchell Centre. The Gryphon men’s and women’s team finished the two-day event in third place.
On the women’s side the Gryphons made huge strides, placing as close to second place Toronto in points than ever in the past at this event. A total of four Gryphons have now qualified for the CIS Championships, making their qualifying times including Alisha Harricharan (Brampton, Ont.) and rookies Stephanie Papadedes (Guelph, Ont.), Terese Wey (Waterloo, Ont.) and Justine Van Herk (Ceder Springs, Ont.).
Leading the way for the women's team was third-year Alisha Harricharian, who won three of her four events (200m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly) and also placed sixth in the 400m freestyle.
Rookie, Stephanie Papadedes placed second in the 200m individual medley with a very strong back split. She also placed second in the 200m backstroke which qualified her for the CIS championships fourth in the 400m individual medley. Another rookie, Justine Van Herk was first and qualified for the CIS championships in the 100m backstroke and placed third in the 50m backstroke. Teammate Tess Wey placed fourth in the 50m freestyle which also qualified her for the CIS championships. She was fourth in the 100m freestyle and third in the 50 butterfly.
For the Gryphon men, it was a fifth-year Matthew Stephenson (Brantford, Ont.) and a first year Evan Van Moerkerke(Tillsonburg, Ont.) who lead the way.
First year rookie Van Moerkerke won all four of his events (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke). He is the fastest all time 50m freestyler in Gryphon history breaking the 1990 title, held by Jeff Sumner.
Stephenson, continued his winning ways with a victory in two of his individual races including the 100m and 200m breaststroke. He also placed fourth in the 100m butterfly and sixth in the 400m individual medley.
Rookie John Carroll (Toronto) swam strong this weekend posting a third place performance in the 200m butterfly and a fifth place finish in the 50m butterfly. Derek Quick (Brantford, Ont.), a third year member of the team was second in the 1500m freestyle, fourth in the 400m freestyle and seventh in the 200m freestyle.
This Thursday the Gryphons race in Toronto at the University Challenge Cup
Source: Guelph Sports Info
MEN 1ST, WOMEN 2ND AT TIHANYIL DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Varsity Blues men’s swimming team dominated, while the women fell just short of the title at the 2012 Tihanyil division swimming championships this weekend (Nov. 17-18) at the University of Guelph.
U of T’s men finished with 1108 points, ahead of McMaster (887) and Guelph (667). The Marauders women squeaked out a 1006-974 win over the Blues, with the Gryphons women also placing third. Rounding out the six-team meet were Laurier, Laurentian and York, who finished 4-5-6 in both men’s and women’s competitions.
"The men may have dominated some of the events but they need to step it up to a much higher notch if they hope to win the national title at the end of the season," said Varsity Blues head coach Byron MacDonald. "On the women’s side, we just came across a more prepared and rested team and they beat us flat out."
Both Jeremie Holdom and Zack Chetrat were double gold medalists for the men. Holdom won the 200 and 400 IM, while Chetrat came away with the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle titles.
“Zack swam a lifetime best of 53.28 in the 100 fly win, which is quite impressive this early in the season. He also did it less than five minutes after he won the 200 freestyle," said MacDonald.
"Jeremie's 400IM is a country-leading swim time and shows that he has found new focus and drive this year since his upset gold medal national title last year," said assistant coach Linda Kiefer.
On the women’s side, the Blues were bolstered by Vanessa Treasure, Andrea Jurenovskis and Margot Cunningham. Treasure won three races in the 400 IM, 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke, while Jurenovskis cruised to victories in the 50 and 100 backstroke events. Cunningham picked up a pair of gold medals in the 200 back and 200 IM events.
"Margot came back this fall fitter and with a great mindset," said MacDonald. "She is already ahead of last year even though she recently missed two weeks of training because she was in Australia at the world lifesaving championships competing for Canada."
Source: Toronto Sports Info
Full Tihanyil Divisional Results
GEE-GEES FINISH SECOND AT OUA DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hosting Gaye Stratten Division Championships with Brock, Queen’s, Trent, Waterloo, and Western on November 17-18, 2012.
Racing in their home pool, in front of their home crowd and with a viewing gallery peppered with homemade signs cheering them on, the Gee-Gees took to the pool for the Gaye Stratten Division Championships this weekend and nabbed a second overall team finish.
Third-year Eryn Weldon easily swan to three first place finishes in the 200m and 400m individual medley and 200m breaststroke, posting times almost five seconds ahead of her competition in all three races. Also for the women’s team, third-year Nicole Lachance finished first in the 200m and 400m freestyle, and second in the 800m freestyle besting her uOttawa record with a 8:58.77 finish. Second-year Julia Tunney captured the lone other gold medal for the women in the 200m backstroke.
For the men, rookie Robert Bonomo continued to impress, finishing with two gold in the 200m backstroke and 100m freestyle, and two silvers in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle. Second-year Connor Michie finished with identical medals to Bomono, with two gold in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, and two silvers in the 200m and 400m individual medley.
Head coach Claude-Yves Bertrand has a large rookie roster this season at uOttawa, but is starting to see his team come together. “The [rookies] are starting to understand where we’re going,” said Bertrand, “It’s different than swimming for yourself and the clock. They have to go and swim fast, and swim for the team; just racing and beating somebody beside you and scoring points.”
Bertrand was also quick to highlight the bright talent from his new recruit Bonomo, “He’s a big engine, hard worker and really professional in the way he approaches swimming. He’s got ability and is pretty versatile; he’s good for the team and to help with many events.” Bonomo will be one to watch for the Gee-Gees at the CIS Championships next February.
While the Gee-Gees found no new CIS qualifiers this weekend, those swimmers already qualified, including Weldon, Lachance, Bonomo and Michie, continued to improve their times and lead the team at the meet.
The Gee-Gees with national qualifying times will travel to the University of Toronto next weekend for the University Cup and Canada Cup and see how they face up racing against some of Canada’s fastest swimmers.
Source: Ottawa Sports Info
MUSTANGS WIN STRATTEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS
OTTAWA - After opening their new home at the Western Student Recreation Centre earlier this year the Western Mustangs swim team headed on the road to Ottawa for the Stratten Divisional to open the team’s season. Both the women’s and men’s team dominated the point rankings, with both teams finishing first overall by considerable margins, while nine Western swimmers qualified for the CIS Championships taking place in February.
The women’s team was impressive, finishing with 1218.5 points, nearly doubling Ottawa who finished behind the Mustangs in second place with 613.5 points. Final point totals for the rest of the field included Waterloo in third with 501 points, followed by Brock with 427 points, Queen’s with 403 points and Trent with 86 points.
The men’s team also took first by a wide margin with 1048 points, ahead of second place Waterloo whose men’s team finished with 697 points. The field rounded out with Ottawa finishing third with 611 points, followed by Queen’s with 329 points, Brock with 167 points and Trent with 61 points.
The Mustangs had various multiple multi-event winners, however with no one individual standing out, as many swimmers were swimming secondary events. Mustangs Head coach Paul Midgely felt that the strong results were a positive way to begin the season, but cautioned that more accurate readings on the team’s prospects could be made after the next two major meets of the season.
With this meet brings nine swimmers posted times fast enough to qualify them for CIS Championships taking place this February in Calgary, another positive note to begin the season.
Source: Western Sports Info
KEMPS LEAD WARRIORS TO 3RD PLACE AT STRATTEN DIVISIONALS
The University of Ottawa hosted the OUA Stratten Divisional swimming championship this past weekend, a good mid-season measuring stick for all OUA swimming teams.
The Warriors showed they are on their way to some great success this season with several quality results while finishing third overall as a team.
The team scores finished with Western University (2266 pts) well in front but Waterloo (1198) in third place just behind the host Gee-Gees (1224). Brock, Queen's and Trent trailed this group.
The women were led by veteran Bronwyn Kemp (Waterloo). Kemp was second in the 200 breast and third in the 100. She narrowly missed qualifying for the CIS championships in the process. Rookie Frances Heather (Waterloo) broke the team record in the 50 back. The women's 200 and 400 free relays both posted top five Warrior times.
The men had more top three finishes with Graeme Kemp (Waterloo) leading the way. Graeme won both IM events and was third in the 400 free and 200 back. Darius Ling (Unionville) was second in the 100 and 200 breast. Evan Dzik (Winnipeg) was second in the 100 fly. Andrew Lee (Thornhill) rounded out the medalists with a bronze in the 400 IM. All three men's relays finished third in very tight races.
There is lots of work left to do and the Warriors will be racing again this weekend splitting up their squad amongst the Canada Cup and Brock Cup.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
BROCK SWIMMERS HAVE GOOD SHOWING AT STRATTEN DIVISIONALS
The Brock University men's and women's swim teams competed at the OUA Gaye Stratten Divisional Championships this past weekend at the University of Ottawa.
"After graduating many of our top performers at the end of last season, we were encouraged by some of the excellent performances posted by our first year swimmers," said head coach Peter Bradstreet. "By far the majority of our top-8 finishes came from first and second year athletes, so we look to continue rebuilding over the next season or two from this base."
Leading the Brock women was Delia Caughlin who had three top seven performances, highlighted by a first place finish in the 50m Breaststroke in a time of 34.14. She also placed 5th in the 100m Breaststroke (1:16.51) and 7th in the 200m Breaststroke (2:49.54).
Rachel Sehn also had a strong meet with four top six finishes. She placed 3rd in the 200m Backstroke (2:22.85), 4th in the 200m Individual Medley (2:28.27), 5th in the 400m Individual Medley (5:05.36) and 6th in the 400m Freestyle (4:35.19).
Laura Perry placed 3rd overall in the 100m Backstroke (1:06.70) and was 7th in the 200m Backstroke (2:25.00).
Rounding out the Brock women's top performers were Emily Welham who was 7th in the 50m Breaststroke (37.55), Jillian Becker (8th - 50m Breaststroke - 38.01) and Lisa McCann (8th - 200m Individual Medley - 2:34.53).
Leading the Brock men was Chris Biilman who finished with four top eight finishes. He placed 5th in both the 200m Individual Medley (2:17.85) and 100m Butterfly (59.93), 6th in the 1500m Freestyle (17:08.40) and 8th in the 50m Butterfly (27.43).
Rounding out the men's top finishers was Matt Stubbs who finished 8th in the 200m Butterfly (2:23.69). In the relay events, the Brock women had four top seven performances.
The team of Perry, Caughlin, Sehn and Erica Dugas finished 4th in the 200m Medley Relay in a time of 2:04.88
The Badgers Bekker, Sehn, McCann and Abigael Layton placed 5th in the 400m Freestyle Relay in a time of 4:15.18.
In the 200m Freestyle Relay, the Brock women placed both 6th and 7th less than two seconds apart. Perry, Dugas, Layton and Bekker, placed 6th in a time of 1:55.62. McCann, Jade Watts, Rebecca Nydam and Karli Catherwood placed 7th in a time of 1:57.27.
The Brock men's 200m Freestyle team of Jeff Belowitz, Alex Ivancic, Jordan Crandall and Keith Kiteley placed 7th in a time of 1:54.42.
Source: Brock Sports Info
