UW swimmers split at TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Wyoming swimming and diving team continued the season with mixed results in a conference dual meet against TCU. The Cowgirls defeated TCU 182-118 to stay undefeated on the season, while the Cowboys fell to the Horned Frogs 180-114.

The Cowgirls advance to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference, while the Cowboys swam their first conference meet today and are 4-1 overall.

"It was a great meet for us today. The women took the lead early and never looked back," UW head coach Tom Johnson said. "The men had great distance swims. We let a few races get away from us early, but we are showing great improvement and we are getting better every week."

The Cowgirls had a total of nine event victories, including Stephanie Vint’s outstanding performance. Vint swam to first place finishes in the 100 butterfly (57.35 seconds), 200 IM (2:06.95) and second place in the 200 freestyle. Along with individual races, Vint swam the third leg of the 400 freestyle relay that set the fourth fastest time in school history with a time of 3:28.95.

In the women’s breaststroke events, the Cowgirls dominated by placing first through third in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. In both events, Lesley Young led the way in first while Lauren Hewson was second and Meghan Swirzcki in third.

Leading the Cowgirls on the diving boards was Allie Smith. Smith won both the one-meter (277.80 points) and three-meter springboards (292.42).

Other individual winners for the Cowgirls include Cassie Stelow in the 50 freestyle, Paige Fischer in the 1000 freestyle, Kelsey Conci in the 100 backstroke, and Shelby Bull in the 100 freestyle.
For the Pokes, the distance swimmers stole the show by winning the 500 freestyle, and placing first through third in the 1000 freestyle. Senior Sam Holmes swam the 500 freestyle in 4:43.06 and placed first. Fellow senior Robbie Hilton won the 1000 freestyle in 9:40.38, while Holmes was close behind in second (9:40.53) and Kyle Wemhoff was third (9:47.57).

The 200 IM was won by freshman Kendrick Bachman in 1:54.79. Sophomore Brandon Fischer was second with a time of 1:54.94

On the boards, Kyle Bogner placed second in both events, while Valentin Schwarz was third in both.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the UW swimming and diving squad will return home and train for their next competition. Wyoming will travel to the three-day Texas Invite in Austin, Texas, Dec. 3-5. The Cowgirls will take on Northern Colorado on Dec.5 in Greeley, Colo. at noon.