Swimming Sends Out Seniors in Style in Dual Win

VU-Swimming-Sends-Out-Seniors-in-Style-in-Dual-WinThe Valparaiso men’s and women’s swimming teams concluded their regular seasons on Saturday at the ARC pool against Eastern Illinois. Before the meet, head coach Howard Hunte honored the nine senior swimmers of Fernando Aguilar (San Salvador, El Salvador/Colegio Internacional de San Salvador), Kyle Braun (McHenry, Ill./West), Matt King (Clinton, Ill./Clinton), Will Mathe (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel), Makenna Cannon (Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine), Laura Fowler (Oleny, Md./Good Counsel), Lauren Knop (Geneva, Ill./Geneva), Megan Mariani (Waukegan, Ill./Warren Township) and Flavia Segatto (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Charles W. Flanagan) along with second-year graduate assistant coach Carlye Ellis.

Both the men and women defeated the Panthers, the first time under Hunte that both teams won. The men picked up their first win of the year, 140.5-121.5, while the women won 147-115 en route to their fourth victory of the season.

Segatto dominated in her final home meet, picking up victories in the 1000 yard freestyle (11:00.93), the 500 yard freestyle (5:25.52) and the 200 yard IM (2:17.55). She also finished second place in the 100 backstroke (1:02.21).

Just like her senior teammate, freshman Dani Gomez Barrientos (Mexico City, Mexico/Grandview Prep [Fla.]) picked up three victories, taking the 200 yard freestyle (1:57.36), the 50 yard butterfly (27.03) and the 100 yard butterfly (59.34). She set the tenth fastest time in Valpo history in the 200 yard freestyle and the sixth fastest time in the 100 yard butterfly.

Braun finished up his collegiate home career with a pair of titles, sweeping the 50 (21.49) and the 100 yard freestyle (48.08) races.

Gonzalo Castro Diaz (Mexico City, Mexico) swept the butterfly races, touching the wall in 23.44 in the 50, while finishing in 52.69 in the 100.

Cannon finished right behind Gomez Barrientos in the 200 yard freestyle (2:02.42) and won the 50 yard breaststroke (32.65).

Max Penn (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep.) picked up a pair of second place finishes in the 100 (54.46) and the 50 yard backstroke (26.57).

Emily Trimpe (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) and Rachel Law (Wayne, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) finished one-two in the 100 yard breaststroke and were separated by just .01 as Trimpe just edged out the victory in 1:11.81.

Fred Jenny (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) took home a pair of victories in the 100 (58.46) and the 50 yard breaststroke (26.88).

Knop scored with a pair of third place finishes in the 50 yard butterfly (28.64) and the 50 yard backstroke (30.12).

Erin McBride (St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves) touched the wall first in 100 yard freestyle (56.04) and took second in the 50 yard freestyle (25.39).

Mathe finished second in the 50 yard breaststroke (28.21).

Valpo swept the 200 yard medley relay races. The women’s team of Knop, Cannon, Gomez Barrientos and McBride finished in 1:53.50 while the men’s team Penn, Jenny, Castro Diaz, and Trent Chamness (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) finished in 1:37.83.

The men’s 200 yard freestyle relay team of Castro Diaz, M. King, Jenny and Braun also took first in 1:25.84.

The Crusaders have almost five weeks off before they return to the pool on Feb. 25 for the Horizon League Championships in Milwaukee, Wis.