Stanford Swimming Sweeps Pitt in First Matchup

Luke Maurer. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Stanford freshmen Rex Maurer and Jonathan Tan combined for four individual victories in their collegiate debuts to lead the Cardinal men’s swimming and diving team to a season-opening 179-116 victory over Pittsburgh at Avery Aquatic Center on Friday.

Maurer and Tan each hit NCAA B standards in each of their winning efforts, while Stanford won 13 of 16 events. This dual meet opened the fifth season for the Cardinal under Goldman Family Director of Men’s Swimming, Dan Schemmel, and 10th under diving coach Patrick Jeffrey.

Maurer won the 100-yard backstroke in 47.09 and the 500 freestyle in 4:19.45 (each a B standard) and led off Stanford’s winning 200 medley relay team in his first collegiate event. Maurer was followed by Ethan Dang, Rafael Gu, and older brother Luke Maurer. The team won in 1:27.09.

Tan, who recently competed at the Asian Games while representing his native Singapore, won the 50 free in 19.65 and the 100 free in 43.35 – each a B standard.

Diver Jack Ryan was a double winner for Stanford. Third in the NCAA 1-meter springboard last spring, Ryan won that event with 396.00 points and then won the 3-meter with 437.25.

One of the better duels was the anchor leg of the final event, the 400 free relay, when Luke Maurer bested his little brother in a close finish, 2:55.02 to 2:55.73.

This was Stanford’s first-ever dual meet against Pitt, coached by former Stanford women’s swimming volunteer assistant Chase Kreitler. The programs will continue to compete against each other in the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.

Next for Stanford is a dual against UC Santa Barbara on October 27 at Avery.

Stanford women win

Stanford kicked off the 2023-24 campaign with an impressive 190-105 win over Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon at Avery Aquatic Center.

The Cardinal move to 11-1 in regular season openers under head coach Greg Meehan, claiming all but one event title on the day. Stanford four 1-2-3 finishes in the meet, sweeping to 100 and 200 Back, 100 Free, and 200 Fly.

Kayla Wilson and Natalie Mannion led the way with a pair of event titles. Wilson paced the field with an NCAA B Standard cut time of 1:44.76 in the 200 free and led the charge in a clean sweep of the 100 free with a 49.69. Mannion swept both backstroke races, clocking a 54.26 in the 100 back and a 1:58.70 in the 200 back.

Freshman tandem Lucy Thomas and Caroline Bricker also earned two wins in their first collegiate action. Thomas claimed event titles in the 50 free (22.54) and 200 breast (2:14.77), while Bricker won the 200 fly (1:55.96) and 500 free (4:53.84) events.

Rounding out the event winners for the Cardinal were Aurora Roghair in the 1000 free (9:51.18), Gigi Johnson in the 100 fly (54.38), and Lucy Bell in the 200 IM (1:57.15)

Johnson and Thomas would team up with Jamie Brennan and Janelle Rudolph to earn a 200 medley relay title with a time of 1:40.14, while Wilson, Johnson, Rudolph, and Roghair clocked a 3:20.92 to win the 400 free relay.

On the diving boards, Lauren Burch won the 1-meter dive while Emilie Moore claimed the 3-meter dive event title.

Five Cardinal earned NCAA B Standard cut times on the day, with Bell (200 IM), Bricker (200 fly), Wilson (200 free), Thomas (50 free), and Charlotte Hook (200 fly – 1:59.04) all surpassing their respective time thresholds.

Stanford returns to action with their annual alumni meet on Friday, Oct. 20, before welcoming Arkansas and Washington State to Avery Aquatic Center for a home doubleheader on Oct. 27 and 28.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Stanford Athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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