UW swimmers sweep Utah

The University of Wyoming swimming and diving team swept the Utah Utes in Corbett Pool on Friday. In the process, the Cowgirls broke three pool records, while the Pokes improve their record and win their first Mountain West conference dual.

The Cowgirls defeated the Utah women by a final score of 182-115 to improve their record to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in conference meets. The Cowboys advanced their record to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in conference with a 162-137 victory over the Utah men.

"Tonight was a solid team effort from both sides," said UW head coach Tom Johnson. "We lost a few events we should have won, but breaking three pool records was awesome and it was great for our the guys to get their first conference win."

The first pool record that went down Friday night was also the first race of the night. Kelsey Conci, Lesley Young, Stephanie Vint and Cassie Stelow swam the 400 medley relay in 3:53.00, a new Corbett Pool record. The old record was set by Utah in 2006.

Cowgirl relays continued setting new marks in the 200 freestyle relay. Stelow, Conci, Shelby Bull, and Vint touched in at 1 minute, 34.89 seconds to set the new record as well.

Individually, Lauren Hewson, a transfer to UW from Utah, broke the 200 breaststroke pool record by placing first in 2:21.28. Other individual winners for the Cowgirls include Paige Fischer in the 1000 freestyle (10:56.90), Bull in the 200 freestyle, Conci in the 100 backstroke (58.89), Lauren Hewson in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.98), Stelow in the 50 freestyle (23.57), Mandy Schumacher in the 200 backstroke (2:09.48) and Kristen Flachbarth in the 500 freestyle (5:21.93).

"The relay records set tonight was fun to watch. The 200 freestyle relay crushed the previous record," Johnson said. "Lauren Hewson and Paige Fischer swam very well tonight. I thought Lauren (Hewson) swam the best she has this season at altitude."

The Pokes earned their first conference victory and were led by two double winners. Senior Tommy Gregory won both the 50 and 100 freestyle to give his team much needed points.
Sophomore Brandon Fischer won his two events, the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.

Other winners were Nathan Fuller in the 100 backstroke (51.82), Tyler Kybartas in the 200 butterfly (1:57.12), and Kendrick Bachman in the 200 IM (1:56.17). The Pokes 400 medley relay of Marshall Dilworth, Fischer, Kybartas, and Gregory also finished first.

"Fischer was awesome today like last week, and Tommy Gregory was a stud as well," Johnson said. "Kendrick Bachman swam a great 200 IM and saved us in that race. I was happy for the guys to get their first conference win."

On the diving boards, senior Stephanie Ortiz nearly broke the pool record on three-meter with a score of 316.55 points, two points away from a pool record. Ortiz backed up her winning three-meter performance with another first place finish on one-meter with a score of 278.35. Junior Mark Murdock placed the highest for the Cowboys on both boards. Murdock won the one-meter springboard with a final of 314.40, and placed second on three-meter with 310.95.

"The divers were awesome again today. Ortiz winning both boards was huge and Murdock did very well too," said Johnson. "All-in-all it was a good meet for us. Tonight the challenge is to rest and recover and be ready to be challenged tomorrow."

Wyoming will host BYU in Corbett Pool on Saturday. Senior recognition will take place prior to the meet as well. One board of diving will take place at 10:30 a.m., while the meet will start at noon.