No. 5 Texas A&M put on quite a show for Senior Day at College Station. In their last women’s home meet of the season, the Aggies won all 16 events, beating Southern Methodist University 159.5-114.5.
The Aggies got off to a hot start and never looked back. They took first, second, third and fourth place in the 400-yard medley relay. The winning team of backstroker Beryl Gastaldello, breaststroker Jorie Caneta, butterflier Claire Brandt and freestyler Meredith Oliver touched the wall in 3:42.38.
Caneta led the Texas A&M swimmers with 18 individual points. The sophomore finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.71) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:15.65). Madison Hudkins was the top scoring diver, also racking up 18 points. Hudkins won the one and three meter diving events.
Brandt and Sycerika McMahon also had big meets, each scoring 13 points. Brandt finished first in the 200-yard backstroke (1:58.27) and also was second in the 50-yard freestyle (23.74). McMahon won the 500-yard freestyle (4:53.43) and was second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.94).
Sarah Gibson, Lisa Bratton, Gastaldello, Esther Gonzalez Medina, Colleen Konetzke, Lexie Lupton each won an event and scored nine individual points. Gibson won the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.88), Bratton took the 100-yard backstroke (55.42), Gastaldello placed first in the 100-yard freestyle (50.00), Gonzalez Medina won the 200-yard butterfly (2:03.78), Konetzke touched first in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:12.26) and Lupton took the 50-yard freestyle (23.37).
The meet ended with a Texas A&M victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Kristin Malone, McMahon, Gastaldello and Gibson posted a time of 1:33.60.
The Aggies improved their record to 6-2 and 4-2 at College Station.
Texas A&M is back in action on Jan. 23 against Louisiana State University.
Shelly Cooper Caneta
Caneta represents the Netherlands internationally and presumably has an eye towards a spot on the Dutch Olympic team for Rio, as does McMahon for Northern Ireland (although I suspect she’d have to make Rio as a member of the GBR squad — no easy task) and Gonzalez swims for Mexico
Jorie was on the USA National Junior team, which makes me question the Netherlands connection.