SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas A&M men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams opened their respective 2016-17 seasons with impressive victories over Incarnate Word on Wednesday at the Ann Barshop Natatorium on the UIW campus.
The Texas A&M women’s squad grabbed at least the top two spots while sweeping the day’s events, while the Aggie men’s team won 13 of 16 possible events with a sweep of the top two spots 11 times. Both teams rolled to 182-105 victories over the Cardinals.
Texas A&M’s impressive crop of newcomers made its presence felt by combining to win 10 races on the day. Women’s squad newcomers winning races were freshman Katie Portz in the 100-yard freestyle (51.46) and 200 free (1:49.73), redshirt freshman Raena Eldridge in the 50 free (23.72) and freshman Kaley Batten in the three-meter dive (277.70). Newcomers logging wins for the men’s team included redshirt freshman Jake Gibbons (transfer from Yale) in the 1,000 free (9:44.50), freshman Anthony Kim in the 100 backstroke (49.78), freshman Adam Koster in the 100 free (45.69), freshman Mike Thibert in the 500 free (4:42.09), freshman Benjamin Walker in the 400 IM (4:01.60) and freshman Raiz Tjon-A-Joe in the 200 breast (2:06.61).
Also of note in the competition was the return of junior Franko Jonker and senior Ashley McGregor to action after redshirting last season while training for the 2016 Olympic Games. Jonker swept both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes (1:02.24 and 2:14.18)), while McGregor was third in the 100 breast and second in the 200 breast.
The Aggies swept the relays with the foursome of junior Lisa Bratton, junior Jorie Caneta, senior Sarah Gibson and Eldridge combining to win the 200 medley relay and sophomore Claire Rasmus, junior Kristin Malone, Eldridge and junior Beryl Gastaldello touching first in the 400 free relay for the women’s team, while Kim, junior Jonathan Tybur, junior Brock Bonetti and seniorJacob Gonzales won the 200 medley relay and Gonzales, Bonetti, sophomore Connor Long and junior Cameron Kerr were victorious in the 400 free relay for the men’s squad.
Aggie veterans earning double victories included Gastaldello in the women’s 100 back (54.70) and 100 fly (53.83), Gibson in the women’s 200 fly (2:01.03) and 500 free (4:55.18) and Castillo in the men’s 100 breast (55.63) and 100 fly (49.41). Returnees with solo victories for the women’s squad were junior Caitlyn Moon in the 1,000 free (10:21.51), sophomore Alais Kalonji in the one-meter dive (283.40), Bratton in the 200 back (1:58.95) and junior Bethany Galat in the 400 IM (4:16.54). Veterans earning solo wins for the men’s squad were Gonzales in the 50 free (20.66), Bonetti in the 200 back (1:45.76) and sophomore Skylar Lake in the three-meter dive (352.45).
The Aggies return to action next week when they host Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 on Alumni Weekend at the Student Recreation Natatorium.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics