AROUND OUA: OUA Sprint Invitational
GUELPH, ON -- (October 15, 2016) - The Guelph Gryphons swimming team showed much depth this past weekend at the OUA Sprint Invitational hosted at UofG, as the team collectively posted eight top-10 finishes. Additionally, the squad notched 12 relay top five finishes.
Gryphon relays dominate at OUA Sprint Invitational
GUELPH, ON -- (October 15, 2016) - The Guelph Gryphons swimming team showed much depth this past weekend at the OUA Sprint Invitational hosted at UofG, as the team collectively posted eight top-10 finishes. Additionally, the squad notched 12 relay top five finishes.
Competing at the meet were over 250 competitive swimmers from six OUA schools including McMaster, Queen's, Ottawa, Waterloo, Brock, and Laurier. Also competing at the meet were swimmers from three universities in China; Beijing University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and Southeast University who were here on a cultural visit to Canada.
On the men's side the Gryphons were led by fifth year Evan Van Moerkerke who took home two top three finishes with a gold in the 50m freestyle (23.24) and then a silver in the 50m backstroke (27.07). On the women's side Emily Anzai led the team with a silver in the 50m backstroke (30.55).
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Great start to season for Gee-Gees swimmers
The Gee-Gees swim team was in action this past weekend, recording strong results at both the OUA Sprint Invitational and the Badger Invitational. Ottawa topped the field in all team categories at the Brock Invitational, and rookie team member Ivan Cocunubo earned a CIS qualifying time.
Cocunubo placed first for the Gee-Gees in the 100 butterfly, earning a trip to the 2017 CIS National Championships with his time of 55.07, and also swam to a second place finish in the 100m backstroke. The Gatineau native is now in his first year at uOttawa after studying at Cégep de l'Outaouais.
Head coach Dave Heinbuch highlighted the performance of Dana Sherrard at the OUA Sprint Invitational. The first-year from Toronto tied for first in the 50-metre butterfly and also turned in strong performances in the butterfly portions of the medley relays. Another standout rookie performer was Guelph, Ont. native Dawson Konrad who topped the field in the 200-metre breaststroke event at Brock with a time of 2:27.91, while nursing student Jessica Forbes had great swims in the 100 and 200 backstroke events.
One match-up to keep an eye on throughout the swimming season will be Gee-Gees rookie Trae Parsons as he lined up against Guelph's Olympian Evan Van Moerkerke on several occasions this weekend. Parsons nearly edged the senior racer in the 50-metre freestyle on Saturday and was back to challenge him in the 100m free on Sunday, finishing third. Parsons was also hot on the heels of third-year Gee-Gees medley specialist Montana Champagne throughout the weekend.
"We are extremely happy with the entire team's effort and it was very encouraging for us to win all three relays as well," commented Heinbuch.
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees
The Warriors swim teams raced very well through a couple of long days at the pool this weekend. Saturday turned into a real marathon thanks to some technological gliches that stretched out the meet to close to 6 hours. Everyone raced at least 6 times and some as many as 10 times. Sunday ran much more smoothly but longer events tested the endurance of the team. Through it all the swimmers maintained good performances.
The OUA Sprint Invitational on Saturday is a meet that runs with heats, semi-finals and finals compressed into a (usually) fast format. Waterloo captured the first event of the meet in the men's 100 medley relay. Other medal winning swims included Josie Andres (Thorndale), who had a very quick session, with a win in the 50 free and a silver in the 50 fly. Jon Ramkissoon won the 50 breast. Aidan Chow (Gormley) won the 50 fly. And in a surprise, rookie Natasha Dobos, was 3rd in the 50 fly posting a time (29.97) that jumps her into 4th on the all time Warrior top 10 list.
Sunday's meet was a more typical affair with a bonus. A group of 20 swimmers, representing 3 universities in China, joined in the racing and provided some excellent competition. This is the 2nd year in a row that different Chinese schools have travelled swimmers over to participate in OUA events.
In the end Ottawa U showed they will be a force at the top end of the OUA this year. The Gee Gees dominated the scoring with the final tally showing Ottawa at 165, Guelph 91, Laurier 65, Waterloo 41 and Beijing University at 34 on the women's side of the meet and Ottawa 164, Waterloo 83, Guelph 72, Beijing 47 and Laurier 38 on the men's.
Sunday's individual highlights were Kieran Waterous 2nd in the 200 fly and 3rd in the 400 free, Jon Ramkissoon 1st in the 100 breast and Aidan Chow (Gormley) 3rd in the 200 fly.
Next up for the Warriors is a trip across the border to race against the Niagara Purple Eagles on November 5th.
Source: Waterloo Warriors
