Pac-12 Friday Recap: USC Men Edge Out ASU in Tempe; Women Dominate
![2016.03.26 NCAA Mens Swimming Championships_Reagan_USC Pat Mulcare](https://vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2016.03.26-NCAA-Mens-Swimming-Championships_Reagan_USC-Pat-Mulcare-1024x684.jpg)
Arizona State welcomed the USC Trojans to Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex Friday afternoon for one of the signature Pac-12 swimming and diving contests of the fall semester. The men’s meet was a nail-biter, with the Trojans coming out on top, 153-147, while USC beat Arizona State’s women handily, 176.5 to 123.5.
The ASU men opened up with a 400 medley relay win, with a team featuring Zachary Poti, Christian Lorenz, Patrick Park and Cameron Craig touching in 3:13.21
USC’s Pawel Furtek won the 1000 free in 9:17.47, but only after he and runner-up Ben Olszewski each swam an extra 50 yards on the end.
In the most exciting race of the afternoon, USC’s Dylan Carter led for the first 175 yards of the 200 free out of lane one, but ASU’s Cameron Craig came back on the last 50. Nearly negative splitting the race (47.94/48.35), Craig out-split Carter 23.52 to 25.57 on the last 50 and won the race in 1:36.29 to 1:36.52.
The Trojans finished 1-2 in the men’s 100 back with Ralf Tribuntsov (47.24) and Robert Glinta (47.27), but ASU’s Lorenz responded with a win in the 100 breast (55.53), and Park touched out USC’s Alex Valente to win the 200 fly, 1:46.43 to 1:46.82.
Wins in the sprint events went to USC’s Santo Condorelli in the 50 free (20.23) and to Craig in the 100 (44.21), and the back-and-forth continued as Patrick Mulcare won the 200 back for the Trojans in 1:43.53.
ASU wasn’t done, though, as Lorenz won the 200 breast (2:00.34) and Olsewski took first in the 500 free (4:29.06)—only to see Alex Valente win the 100 fly (47.60) for USC before Mulcare win again with a 1:48.33 in the 200 IM.
Diving wins were split among the teams: USC’s Henry Fusaro won on one-meter (365.93), and ASU’s Youssef Selim took first on three-meter (386.10).
ASU got the win in the final relay, with Craig anchoring the team of Park, Evan Carlson and Poti, but USC finished second and third to secure the win.
On the women’s side, USC cruised in the opening 400 medley relay, with Louise Hansson (back) and Riley Scott (breast) putting the race out of reach for the Sun Devils before Catherine Sanchez and Marta Ciesla brought home the win. USC won in 3:41.66.
In the first individual event of the day, USC’s Isabella Rongione swam neck-and-neck with ASU’s Caitlin Wilson in the 1000 free before pulling away over the final 200 yards and winning in 9:58.66.
Tatum Wade then won the 200 free for the Trojans in 1:48.29, and USC’s women went on to win every event before the first break. Hansson won both the 100 back (54.60) and 50 free (22.99), while Scott took first in the 100 breast (1:01.51) and Maddie Wright was first in the 200 fly (1:57.79).
The Sun Devil women got their first win of the day in the women’s 100 free when Katherine Wagner touched in 50.72 to edge out Ciesla, and then Chloe Isleta won the 200 back for ASU in 1:58.91. ASU women also got two wins in diving, with Frida Kaellgren topping one-meter (291.53) and Ashley McCool claiming top honors on three-meter (353.70).
But the outcome in the women’s meet was never really in doubt, as Scott added a win in the 200 breast (2:11.40), Wade won the 500 free (4:53.36), and USC freshman Caitlin Tycz won the 100 fly (54.89).
To finish out the meet, Scott won her third event of the day in the 200 IM (1:59.68), and the USC women, with Wade, Ciesla, Lexie Malazdrewicz and a quickly-anchoring Hansson, won the 200 free relay in 1:32.40.
Oregon State at Stanford, NC State at Stanford (women only)
In the first of back-to-back home meets Thursday afternoon, the Stanford ladies cruised over Oregon State at home, winning by a score of 170-77. On Friday, the Stanford women faced much tougher competition in NC State but were still dominant, winning by a score of 189 to 104.
Even with Simone Manuel still sitting out a minor injury, the Cardinal women have now won 18 straight dual meets and 17 against Pac-12 competition.
Against Oregon State, Katie Ledecky got a chance to swim some off-events in her first Stanford meet of the season, but she still swam the 200 free and won in 1:44.51. She also won the 200 IM (1:59.30), took second in the 200 back (2:00.25) and swam the fastest fly leg (24.56) on Stanford’s 200 medley relay. Lindsey Engel, Ella Eastin and Grace Zhao joined Ledecky to win the race in 1:43.13.
Janet Hu won two events for Stanford, the 200 back (1:54.07) and 50 free (22.65), while Katie Drabot won the 1000 free (9:46.04) and 100 fly (53.16). Freshman Lauren Green picked up her first two collegiate wins at her first home meet, winning the 200 fly (1:58.44) and 100 free (50.04).
Oregon State failed to win any events against the Cardinal.
Against NC State, Ledecky again won two individual events, the 1000 (9:18.19) and 100 free (49.25), and so did Hu and Drabot. Hu won the 100 back (51.89) and 100 fly (52.62), while Drabot took top honors in the 200 fly (1:54.49) and 500 free (4:43.20).
Also winning two events were Ella Eastin, who swam to the top spot in the 200 free (1:46.46) and 200 breast (2:13.13), and Haley Farnsworth, who dove to wins on one-meter (280.80) and three-meter (295.20).
Kim Williams won the 100 breast in 1:02.30, and Ally Howe claimed the top spot in the 200 back in 1:54.93.
For more on NC State, check out our ACC swimming recap.
Oregon State at Cal (women only)
The Golden Bears cruised to a 164-85 win over Oregon State in their first home meet of the season, and the event featured a lot of familiar faces winning—although not always in their typical events.
Katie McLaughlin won the 200 free (1:48.23) and 100 fly (53.74) for Cal, while teammate Abbey Weitzeil ventured outside of her normal sprints and won the 100 breast (1:02.97) and 500 free (4:53.54).
Amy Bilquist had wins in the 50 free (22.96) and 200 IM (2:04.26), while Kathleen Baker touched first in the 100 free (50.26). Canadian freshman Sarah Darcel also looks like she could be a big piece for Cal this year. Against Oregon State, Darcel won the 200 fly (1:59.65) and 200 back (2:00.17).
Oregon State did score one win against Cal, as Felicia Anderson took first in the 100 back in 56.17.
UCLA at Arizona (women only)
The University of Arizona women edged out UCLA Friday afternoon in Tucson by a score of 154.5 to 145.5. Hannah Cox led the way for the Wildcats, picking up two individual wins, but it was their all-around depth that pushed them over the top.
Cox won the 1000 (9:57.39) and 500 free (4:52.17), while three of her teammates also picked up wins: Mallory Korenwinder in the 100 breast (1:02.68), Mikayla Ranslem in the 200 fly (2:00.01) and Cameron McHugh in the 200 back (1:57.73).
For the Bruins, Katie Grover won three events: the 50 free (23.35), 100 free (50.19) and 100 fly (54.40). Kenisha Liu won the 200 free (1:48.09) and 200 IM (2:02.20), Emma Schanz swept the odd event combination of 100 back (55.35) and 200 breast (2:16.71), and Eloise Belanger won one-meter (298.73) and three-meter (314.78) diving.
You make it seem like alex valente goes to ASU
Whoops — corrected. Thanks!