The Washington University men’s and women’s swimming and diving team recorded their highest finish in school history as both teams placed second at the University Athletic Association Championships this weekend at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The men finished second out of eight teams with 705 points while the women’s team was second with 720.50 points.
Freshman Eric Triebe capped off his first trip to the UAA’s in style as he won the 200 breaststroke in a school and pool record time of 2:05.42. The time also provisionally qualified Triebe for the NCAA Championships. Senior Matt Johnson and junior James Prescott had impressive showings as Johnson placed third in the 100 freestyle (47.19) and Prescott posted an NCAA “B” cut time as he placed fourth in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 16:15.19.
Freshman Tracey Hendrickson made it a perfect three-for-three as she won her third race of the weekend by swimming an NCAA automatic time of 2:07.64 in the 200 butterfly. The time was also good enough to break the school record by .50 seconds. Senior Laurel Jacobson posted a provisional time in the 200 backstroke (2:10.40/third), freshman Jennifer Scott in the 100 freestyle (52.63/second) and senior Rachel Feldman in the 100 freestyle (53.72/fourth). Freshman Allie Boettger capped off a tremendous UAA Championship by winning the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:25.49, which is good for an NCAA provisional time.
The Bears swept the 400 freestyle relay event as the women swam an automatic qualifying time of 3:32.48 and the men swam a provisional time of 3:05.36. Both times were new school records.
In the diving competition, junior Paloma Garner earned a third place finish with a 420.40 finish on the three-meter board with sophomore Julie Heidbreder finishing in seventh with a 348.30 score. The two also finished third (345.50) and seventh (311.25) on the one-meter board. On the men’s side, senior Ryan Braun swept both events as he won the one-meter board with a mark of 483.35 and the three-meter board with a mark of 491.20. Sophomore Craig Goergen placed seventh on both board with a 375.45 mark on the one-meter and a 392.80 mark on the three-meter.
Head coach Brad Shively and his coaching staff was named the Men’s and Women’s UAA Coaching Staff of the Year while Triebe and Hendrickson were named the UAA Rookies of the Year. Braun earned Men’s Diver of the Year honors while Hendrickson was named the UAA Female Swimmer of the Year after winning three individual events.
Courtesy of bearsports.wustl.edu