University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
SMU
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Gopher Women Prevail Against Mustangs, Men Fall
10/21/2023 2:34:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Minnesota swimming and diving programs split their two-day competition with the SMU Mustangs, wrapping up competition on Saturday afternoon at Robson & Lindley Aquatic Center in Dallas, Texas.
The Gopher women, ranked No. 24 in the CSCAA Preseason Poll, move to 3-0 after defeating the Mustangs 273-80. The Gopher men fall to 1-1 after dropping their matchup with Mustangs by a score of 166-185.
Senior Megan Van Berkom and freshman Katie McCarthy led the way for the Gophers, who led the Mustangs 137-49 after day one. Van Berkom recorded one individual win while McCarthy added two personal victories.
Paul Rodriguez Rivero, Grace Drabot, Ava Yabloski and Hannah Cornish combining for a time of 3:45.29 to take the crown on Saturday morning with a first-place finish in the 400 medley relay.
The women also swept the 1000 free, with McCarthy securing the win with a time of 10:01.67. Eliot Kennedy touched the wall just after McCarthy, finishing second by posting a time of 10:25.34. Jade Roghair came in third with a time of 10:32.06 and Katia Soudakova finished fourth to complete the Gophers' sweep by posting a time of 10:36.87.
Van Berkom continued her strong start to the young season with a 2:01.48 time in the 200 IM, earning an individual win. Claire Reinke finished behind Van Berkom (2:07.92) to secure the top two spots for the Maroon and Gold.
The women completed another sweep in the 200 back, with Indy Jongman claiming the title with a time of 2:01.37. Jongman was followed by Faith Johnson (2:02.20), Paul Rodriguez Rivero (2:03.14) and Elisabeth Jacobs (2:03.61) as the Gophers dominated the event.
Cornish recorded an individual win in the 100 free by posting a time of 50.43. Morgan Thomas' time of 50.86 earned her a second-place finish. To round out the top three in the event, Mina Kaljevic posted a time of 50.92.
The Maroon and Gold finished 1-2-3 in the 200 fly, with Van Berkom touching the wall first with a time of 1:59.75. McCarthy came in second with a time of 2:04.26, and Yablonski followed her by less than half of one second (2:04.61).
The Gopher women continued to impress near the end of the meet, with Drabot securing an individual win in the 200 breast (2:19.45). Ava Gustafson's 2:21.30 earned her a spot in the top two, while Ava Goodno came in third with a time of 2:23.28.
To wrap up their day, the women took the crown in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:33.00. Thomas led off for Minnesota, with Cornish and Kaljevic going second and third, and Yablonski in fourth.
Freshman Elna Widerstrom earned a win in the 3-meter dive with a score of 340.95, while Megan Phillip's score of 310.13 placed her in second. Av Osero rounded out the top three of all Gophers with a score of 275.85.
Kaiser Neverman secured two individual victories on Saturday, while freshman Davide Harabagiu defended his Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors by adding one personal title.
The Gopher men posted a time of 3:11.45 in the 400 medley relay, good for a second place finish. Casey Stowe, Joe Rudd, Davide Harabagiu and Lovro Serdarevic combined for the Gophers in the event.
Harabagiu claimed the crown in the 100 free after his time of 43.96 landed him in the top spot for the event.
Neveman snagged an individual title in the 200 fly by posting a time of 1:44.40. William Christenson finished third in the event with a time of 1:46.75.
Freshman and reigning Big Ten Diver of the Week YuTong Wang impressed in his second collegiate meet, earning a score of 358.43 in the 1-meter dive, good for the top spot in the event. Andrew Bennett followed behind Wang in the standings, as he earned a score of 327.68.
Minnesota is back in action on Oct. 27 when they host St. Thomas for a meet at Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at 5:00 p.m.