Brooks Curry Sets Pool Record, but Texas A&M’s IM Strength Ekes Out Sweep
Texas A&M used a late burst via its individual medley contingent to pace a 154-146 win over LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday, a meet that saw Olympian Brooks Curry take down his home pool record in the 50 free.
The No. 22 Aggies women’s team had an easier go of things by taking a 181.5-111.5 decision.
Texas A&M led by just two points heading into the 400 IM. But the 23rd-ranked Aggies effectively sealed the victory with 17 points in the 400 IM. Anze Erzen led the way with a winning time of 3:54.56, and Andres Puente and Munzy Kabbara followed with times in the 3:58s to get on the podium. That left a second-place result in the 400 free relay as sufficient to finish off the victory.
Erzen backed his IM by winning the 200 backstroke in a pivotal points swing, edging LSU’s Griffin Curtis by .37 seconds. Ethan Gogulski won the 100 back and was third in the 200.
Puente won the 100 breaststroke and was second to teammate Vincent Ribeiro in the 200. The distance group did the rest: Trey Dickey won the 1,000 freestyle (with fellow Aggie William Coakley second) and the 500 free. Luke Stuart was second in the 200 free to Mark Schnippenkoetter and third in the 500.
Curry turned in the best individual swim of the day in the 50 free. He went 19.42 in the 50 free to top teammate Jack Jannasch by more than a second. He downed his pool record of 19.51 from earlier in the season.
Curry also won the 100 free in 43.76, then split 42.39 on the second leg of an LSU rout in the 400 free relay. He also anchored the winning 200 medley relay with an 18.96.
Gavin Rogers won the 200 fly for the Tigers, and Emil Hassling claimed the 100 fly. Juan Celaya Hernandez swept the diving events.
Chloe Stepanek was the main protagonist for the Texas A&M women. She won the 200 free, 100 free and 500 free, spreading around her freestyle dominance. Sarah Holt won the 200 fly in a season-best time of 1:58.95, then claimed the 100 fly. Joelle Reddin’s season-best time of 200 breast (2:15.94) was good enough for the win, and she paced the field in the 400 IM.
Kaitlyn Owens won the 100 back and was second to teammate Bobbi Kennett in the 50 free, with Kennett third in the 100 free. Aviv Barzelay, who was second in the 100 back, claimed the 200 back crown. Abby Grottle won the 1,000 free for A&M.
LSU’s only win the pool came via Emilie Boll, who claimed the 100 breast in 1:01.77. Chiara Pellacani won both diving events.
