AROUND OUA: Fairweather Divisional Swimming Championship
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's swimming teams successfully defended their titles as the 2015 OUA Fairweather division championships wrapped up Sunday at Varsity Pool.
Varsity Blues capture OUA Fairweather division championship
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's swimming teams successfully defended their titles as the 2015 OUA Fairweather division championships wrapped up Sunday at Varsity Pool.
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's swimming teams successfully defended their titles as the 2015 OUA Fairweather division championships wrapped up Sunday at Varsity Pool.
The OUA divides the 11 OUA swim teams into two divisions, with U of T hosting the division featuring the top five teams from the previous year's OUA championship.
"This is a nice cap to a very good fall Season," said Varsity Blues head coach Byron MacDonald. "It is an Olympic year and that extra excitement has carried over into our preparation and the results are showing up in how fit and fast we are. We normally don't set varsity records in mid-season, yet we have set almost 10 of them this fall. That's unheard of."
2014-15 CIS swimmer of the year Eli Wall earned four gold medals, winning two more races in Sunday's 50 and 200 breaststroke events.
Other solo winners for the Blues were rookie Ozvald Nitski in the 200 butterfly in an impressive time of 2:00.00, Daniel Kuiack with a 100 backstroke meet record time of 54.16 and sophomore Oliver Staszynski broke his own 400 freestyle record to capture the gold.
Another highlight saw Pan Am Games silver medallist Evan Van Moerkerke of the Guelph Gryphons win the 100 freestyle, breaking his own meet record.
On the women side, fifth-year veteran Paige Schultz also completed a golden sweep, picking up her third and fourth gold medals. Schultz won the 100 freestyle in a U of T record swim, as well as the 50 butterfly.
Sophomore Kylie Masse, who broke the Canadian 50-metre backstroke record on Day 1, also won two more races in the 200IM and 100 backstroke.
Other victors for the Blues were sophomore Melanie Mcdonald in the 200 butterfly, Victoria Radounski in a meet record 400 freestyle win and rookie Victoria Wicks set a U of T record in winning the 50 breaststroke.
"Both teams know they have a shot at the national title if the cards fall right, so there is extra incentive to work hard and turn that into fast swimming," added Blues assistant coach Linda Kiefer.
Full Results
Men's Team Standings
Toronto (1086)
Western (795)
McMaster (600)
Guelph (390)
Ottawa (379)
Women's Team Standings
Toronto (1075)
Guelph (642)
Western (637)
McMaster (576.5)
Ottawa (350.5)
Source: Toronto Varsity Blues
Gryphons finish in top five at Fairweather championship
TORONTO, ON - Both the Gryphons Men's and Women's swim teams were competing as one of the top five OUA teams at the Alan Fairweather OUA Division Championships November 28 and 29 at the University of Toronto. The other four teams competing were from the University of Toronto, Western University, McMaster University and the University of Ottawa. Strong performances by both the men and women improved their standings from last year's division championships. For the men, they improved to 4th this year, while the women were 2nd, improving from 4th last year, moving ahead of McMaster and Western for the first time in a number of years. The team came home with 15 medals, with nine members swimming CIS-qualifying times in 17 events. The CIS Championships will be held Feb 25 to 27 at Laval University.
On the first day of competition, the dynamic duo of Evan Van Moerkerke and Phil Vranic captured podium spots in both the 50m and 200m freestyle events. In the 50m event, Van Moerkerke was 2nd and Vranic 3rd. In the 200m event, Moerkerke was the fastest capturing gold, with Vranic close behind in 3rd. On the second day, Moerkerke was on the podium with a gold medal in the 100m freestyle and a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke events, qualifying for the CIS championships in his four individual events. Vranic qualified in the 50m freestyle. Second year Eric Trevisan took 1st in the 50m butterfly, qualifying for the CIS championships for the second year in a row. The 4x100m freestyle relay team of Trevisan, John Carroll, Van Moerkerke, and Vranic were on the podium, placing 2nd in a CIS-qualifying time.
The women's team was led by a pair of third year swimmers. Emily Anzai, the team's backstroke specialist, qualified for the CIS championships in the three distances. Anzai had three podium finishes with a 2nd in the 200m backstroke, 3rd in the 100m backstroke, and, as a member of the 2nd place 200m medley relay, swimming the first leg with the 50m backstroke. Distance freestyler Tara Mallory qualified for the CIS championships in the 400m (with a bronze medal) and 800m freestyle events as well as the 200m backstroke. Second year breaststroke specialist Leili Tilvaldyeva was on the podium with two 3rd place finishes in the 50m and 200m breaststroke events, with CIS-qualifying times. Also on the podium with a bronze medal was Haylie Burton in the 100m butterfly, qualifying for the CIS championships. Rookie sprinter Victoria Di Caro swam a CIS-qualifying time in the 50m butterfly. The relay team of Anzai, Tilvaldyeva, Burton, and Samantha Young captured a second place finish in the 200m medley relay event.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Champagne and Prayal-Brown shine in OUA Divisional Meet
This weekend Gee-Gees swimming team travelled to the OUA Fairweather Divisional Championships hosted by the Toronto Varsity Blues in Toronto, Ontario. Along with the host, the Gee-Gees faced the Universities of Guelph, Western, and McMaster.
Day One
The women opened the day with a 6th place finish in the 200 meter Freestyle relay (Audrey Prayal-Brown, Delphine Vandal, Marie-Pier Daigle, and Erin Power, 1:47.97). Prayal-Brown went on to place second in the women's 100 meter breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:11.31. Teammate Daigle took third in the women's 200 meter backstroke with a time of 2:17.14.
Anne-Marie Kaczmarczyk swam a personal best, finishing fifth in the 400 meter individual medley in 5:00.65. Mackenzie Finkbeiner rounded out the day with an eighth place finish in the 800 meter freestyle (9:06.33).
After Day 1 of the meet, the hosts led the women's team standings with 498 points, followed by Western (311), Guelph (289), McMaster (260) and Ottawa (149).
On the men's side Montana Champagne led the way, placing third in the men's 400 meter individual medley with a time of 4:26.44, and fifth in the 200 meter backstroke in 2:05.23. Teammate Connor Michie also captured a bronze medal in the 100 meter breaststroke with a time of 1:03.42.
Toronto lead the Day 1 men's team standings as well with 507 points, followed by Western (401), McMaster (272), Ottawa (160) and Guelph (154).
Day Two
The Gee-Gees relay team of Marie-Pier Daigle, Audrey Prayal-Brown, Carolyne Godon and Morgan Mcartney started the day with a fourth place finish in the women's 200 meter medley relay in a time of 2:00.22.
Godon would go on to place 6th in 200 meter breaststroke (2:37.25), with Power placing eighth in the women's 100 meter backstroke in 1:04 flat.
It was a big day for Prayal-Brown, who swam the 50 meter breaststroke in 32.77, coming in under the meet record time of 33.70 and making the CIS standard!
The men's relay team of Robert Bonomo, Connor Michie, Montana Champagne and Stephen Sun kicked things off by placing fifth in the 200 meter medley relay in a time of 1:44.53. And the Gee-Gees would only improve as the day went on, performing for a trio of podium results.
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees
Mustangs finish second and third at Fairweather Division Championships
TORONTO - The Western Mustangs men's and women's swimming teams captured six top finishes this past weekend to help them take second and third place, respectively, at the Fairweather Division Champsionships.
The OUA divides the 11 OUA swim teams into two divisions, with University of Toronto hosting the division featuring the top five teams from the previous year's OUA championship.
The men's team took second place with 795 points, behind University of Toronto who easily took first with a total of 1086 points. McMaster trailed behind the purple and white for third place (600), followed by Guelph (390) and Ottawa (379).
Oakville, Ontario native Gamal Assaad won first place in the 100 SC Meter Butterfly with a CIS standard time of 53.94. Matthew Loewen took the 200 SC Meter IM with 2:03.84 CIS and finished second in the 100 SC Meter Breaststroke.The Men's 200 SC Meter Freestyle Relay took second place, behind the Varsity Blues, with a time of 1:33.28. Team members include Brent Waddell, Nathan Lethbridge, Assaad, and Aaron Rode.
The Varsity Blue's women's team also took first place with 1075 points, followed by Guelph with 642. The Mustangs were just behind the Gryphons with 637 points, followed by McMaster (576.5) and Ottawa (350.5).
Fourth-year veteran Jennifer McNaughton took first in the 400 SC Meter IM with 4:51.92, meeting the CIS standard. Teammate Sarah Asselin finished in third with 4:57.73. Paulina Bond, also veteran, impressed with first place in the 100 SC Meter Butterfly at 1:00.78 and took second in the 50 SC Meter Freestyle. Sophie Cieplucha met a CIS standard while taking first in the 100 SC Meter Breaststroke at 1:11.17 and the 200 SC Meter Breaststroke with 2:35.08. The women's 400 SC Meter Freestyle Relay, which included Kelly Hotta, Keira Brazeau, Lexi Meklensek, and Charis Huddle finished second behind the Varisty Blues.
Up next, the Mustangs will host the Western Invitational December 5, in the Western Student Recreation Centre.
Source: Western Mustangs
