The first dual meet of the 2015-2016 NCAA swimming and diving season saw Alabama win decisively over in-state rival Delta State. This is the fourth time in a row the two teams have started their seasons racing each other, and this year marks the earliest date for the showdown.
The Alabama swimming team was without reigning 100 free NCAA champion Kristian Gklolomeev, but did not need the junior sprinter to win the men’s meet. Alabama scored 213 points to Delta State’s 49, while the women’s meet showed a nearly identical score of 219-42.
The men’s and women’s teams had plenty of strength in the meet without Gkolomeev. Senior Brett Walsh had no problem winning the 50 free with a strong 20.54, keeping Delta State’s Mattia Schirru at second with a 20.86. Junior Connor Oslin, one of the team’s rising stars with potential to score in the butterfly events as well as help on relays, won the 100 fly with a 49.289, beating teammate Abbas Qali and his 49.96.
Anton McKee, one of the top breaststrokers in the world, skipped the breaststroke races in Friday’s dual meet but won the 200 IM with a 1:52.33. His 30.46 breaststroke split helped him secure the win over teammate Taylor Charles and his 1:52.66. Also in the running was Christopher Reid, who gave ‘Bama a 1-2-3 finish with a 1:53.36.
Alabama had 15 other 1-2-3 finishes in the women’s and men’s meet:
Men’s 1000 free: Jack Hadjiconstantinou (9:35.28), Carl Madden (9:36.21), Travis Kerner (9:41.59)
Men’s 200 free: Knox Auerbach (1:39.38), Christian Arseneau (1:40.28), Alex Gray (1:40.84)
Women’s 100 breast: Bridget Blood (1:03.97), Stephanie Klotz (1:04.61), Marian Yurchishin (1:05.26)
Women’s 200 fly: Mia Nonnenberg (2:01.03), Hannah Musser (2:01.87), Leah Bird (2:03.10)
Men’s 200 fly: Taylor Charles (1:49.60), Will Freeman (1:52.66), Kyle Simpson (1:54.86)
Women’s 50 free: Bailey Scott (24.17), Mo Fleming (24.44), Lindsay Morrow (24.54)
Women’s 100 free: Caroline Beene (52.39), Scott (52.40), Morrow (52.42)
Women’s 200 back: Emma Saunders (2:00.90), Katie Kelsoe (2:01.84), Temarie Tomley (2:03.62)
Women’s 200 breast: Blood (2:19.16), Klotz (2:19.72), Yurchishin (2:21.56)
Women’s 500 free: Paige Matherson (5:03.26), Emily Zapinski (5:08.63), Karolina Szczepaniak (5:12.60)
Men’s 500 free: Madden (4:37.31), Arseneau (4:37.76), Brian Westlake (4:42.78)
Women’s 100 fly: Musser (55.61), Bird (56.86), Brittany Gilbert (57.29)
Men’s 100 fly: Oslin (49.28), Qali (49.96), Kelsoe (51.25)
Women’s 200 IM: Nonnenberg (2:04.05), Yurchishin (2:07.84), Kelsoe (2:08.99)
Men’s 200 IM: McKee (1:52.33), Charles (1:52.66), Reid (1:53.36)
Rolling the tide?
Keep rolling Bama swim dive teams! Have a great year!