Varsity Blues win Fairweather Divisional Championships

Toronto (via Toronto Varsity Blues) - The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s and women’s swimming teams both placed first overall at the 2019 OUA Fairweather division championships, November 23-24, at Varsity Pool.

TEAM SCORES: Toronto’s men racked up 1136 points, ahead of the Waterloo Warriors (776), Western Mustangs (627) and Laurentian Voyageurs (607). The Blues women accumulated 1107 points, ahead of Western (808.5), Waterloo (648) and Laurentian (587.5).

“The division championships are always a good way to finish off our fall training to see where we’re at,” said head coach Byron MacDonald. “I think the athletes performed very well. We have a great facility here at the University of Toronto and it’s easier to perform when you’re in a great facility with a great set up. We were expected to win this meet and we didn’t disappoint. The big thing was that the athletes didn’t back down. We had several breakthrough swims.”

WOMEN’S RESULTS: U of T’s women won all but one race over the two-day meet. Leading the way was fourth-year standout Hannah Genich. The 2019 FISU Games bronze medalist won four individual races in the 100 and 200 butterfly events, as well as the 200 backstroke and 400 freestyle.

Rookie sensation Abby McDonald continued to impress with three individual victories this weekend. The Elora, Ont., native won the 100 and 200 breast stroke races, as well as the 400 individual medley (IM). Similarly, sophomore Aleksa Gold came away with three wins in the 100 and 200 freestyle races, as well as the 100 backstroke.

Team co-captain Rachel Rodé was a double winner, touching the wall first the 50 backstroke and freestyle races, while Kate Rendall won the 800 freestyle, Georgia Kidd took the top spot in the 200 IM and Sarah Polley claimed gold in the 100 butterfly.

Waterloo’s Christina Ji was also golden, winning the 50 breaststroke on Day 2.

MEN’S RESULTS: Waterloo’s Lukas Wormald led the way with three individual victories in the 200 and 400 IM events, as well as the 50 butterfly.

Four Varsity Blues notched double victories over the weekend. Fifth-year veteran Osvald Nitski won both the 100 and 200 butterfly events, while fourth-year standout Matthew Mac touched the wall first in the 100 and 200 backstroke races.

Sophomore Graeme Aylward placed first in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, while rookie Bernard Godolphin turned some heads this weekend, winning the 200 and 400 freeestyle races.

U of T’s Cam Kidd and Ethan Fazekas won the 50 and 100 freestyle events, respectively, while Chris Ruus took the top spot in the 50 backstroke.

Rounding out the individual wins were a pair of Western Mustangs as Sebastian Paulins handily won the 1500 freestyle and Matthew Loewen earned gold in the 50 breaststroke.