Sunday, February 28, 2010
Final Day @ SCIAC's
I know what you are saying...it's about time you got the last day up there! So what did the team do on the last day? Let's start off the highlight reel with Jeven Dovey's 200 Breaststroke. With the cheering of the Occidental Swimming & Diving program, Jeven swam at an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 2:07.92 and finished in 3rd place. His mark was even more impressive considering his previous time was swum in a full body LZR. Other highlights include:
- Senior Adam Kantor swam a personal best in the 100 freestyle (47.08). After a somewhat dissappointing prelim swim, he decided that he wanted to prove he was one of the best sprinters in the conference. Adam took the lead on the first length and never looked back. His teammate Stephen Ratkovich also swam a lifetime best of 48.08 and placing 14th.
- First-year Alena Morris made it 2 for 2 in the butterfly events as she reached the finals of the 200 butterfly. Swimming with nothing to lose, she completed the 8 lengths in 2:16.15 to rank as one of the top freshman butterfliers in the conference and establish herself as a threat for 3 more years.
- Also achieving a personal best with first-year Lauren Howarth swimming a 54.90 in the consolation finals. After squeeking in with a 55.95, Lauren followed a strategy of taking the lead and holding on. It was clearly the right strategy as she moved up 4 places into 11th.
There were just so many excellent performances by the team. From the men's 400 Free Relay, which they swam to the 2nd fastest time in school history (previous time was set in 1974!) to Sara Mendoza and Mili Kale finishing top 12 in the 1650. It was a team effort.
That team effort produced the following upsets. The women lost to LaVerne by 19 points during the dual meet season. The Tiger Women took 5th place by more than 99 points over the squad!
As for the men, despite being ranked behind the team of Cal Lutheran on the psych sheet as well as losing the dual meet by over 60 points, the team pulled the upset and secured 4th place by a mere 8 points.
This weekend was a team effort and our focus as we head into the future is the same as it is now...on the OXY SWIMMING & DIVING FAMILY!!! To everyone who followed us this year, thank you so much for your support. To those who will be joining the family next year, get ready to do even bigger and better things!
- Senior Adam Kantor swam a personal best in the 100 freestyle (47.08). After a somewhat dissappointing prelim swim, he decided that he wanted to prove he was one of the best sprinters in the conference. Adam took the lead on the first length and never looked back. His teammate Stephen Ratkovich also swam a lifetime best of 48.08 and placing 14th.
- First-year Alena Morris made it 2 for 2 in the butterfly events as she reached the finals of the 200 butterfly. Swimming with nothing to lose, she completed the 8 lengths in 2:16.15 to rank as one of the top freshman butterfliers in the conference and establish herself as a threat for 3 more years.
- Also achieving a personal best with first-year Lauren Howarth swimming a 54.90 in the consolation finals. After squeeking in with a 55.95, Lauren followed a strategy of taking the lead and holding on. It was clearly the right strategy as she moved up 4 places into 11th.
There were just so many excellent performances by the team. From the men's 400 Free Relay, which they swam to the 2nd fastest time in school history (previous time was set in 1974!) to Sara Mendoza and Mili Kale finishing top 12 in the 1650. It was a team effort.
That team effort produced the following upsets. The women lost to LaVerne by 19 points during the dual meet season. The Tiger Women took 5th place by more than 99 points over the squad!
As for the men, despite being ranked behind the team of Cal Lutheran on the psych sheet as well as losing the dual meet by over 60 points, the team pulled the upset and secured 4th place by a mere 8 points.
This weekend was a team effort and our focus as we head into the future is the same as it is now...on the OXY SWIMMING & DIVING FAMILY!!! To everyone who followed us this year, thank you so much for your support. To those who will be joining the family next year, get ready to do even bigger and better things!
Monday, February 22, 2010
So Much Going on in Day 2....I Forgot Prelim Results!
How good was Day 2? It was so good...I didn't get up results from the Prelims! We had personal best, top ten school swims set, and the men's team moving up in the rankings. Whether you were a senior, first-year, male, female, diver, swimmer...you had a personal best!
Congratulations first goes to the team's first NCAA B qualifying mark, which was earned by Sarah Sharpe on the 1m diving competition. Her score of 417 was highlighted by scoring 8's and 9's on her last two dives! It was a 1-2 Oxy finish as Marisa Pulcrano improved on her 3rd place seeding to finish in second. What a great start to finals!
Having gone a 5:00.95 in the 400 IM prelim swims, Sara Mendoza had her eyes set on breaking the 5:00 mark...and boy did she ever! Swimming from start to finish with 100% focus, not only did she swim a 4:53.69, she also came from behind to out-touch a SCIAC competitor to improve her final placing.
Senior #2, Adam Kantor, had what turned into an inspiring performance for the men that set a positive tone for the evening. Having finished 7th in the morning, the field was bunched together and any position from 3-8 was open. With an underwater kick that was lethal, Adam improved to finish in a 52.11 and place 5th.
And finally, senior #3, Jeven Dovey, showed that just because there are no LZR's doesn't mean you can't swim faster! In just a speedo brief, Jeven swam a personal best of 59.64 in the 100 Breaststroke to finish in 5th place and cement himself as one of the best breaststrokers in Occidental history.
Now that we talked about all of the seniors, how about we finish Day 2's highlights with a first-year that I am truly proud of. Alena Morris dropped 3 seconds from her season best to finish her first finals in a 1:00.77 (100 Butterfly).
As I sign off, it's hard to describe the energy and cheering that is taking place by our squad. Once we return back to the home of the Occidental Swimming & Diving squad, look for serious, competitive...and maybe a few funny pictures. Take care!
-Alex Kuhn
Congratulations first goes to the team's first NCAA B qualifying mark, which was earned by Sarah Sharpe on the 1m diving competition. Her score of 417 was highlighted by scoring 8's and 9's on her last two dives! It was a 1-2 Oxy finish as Marisa Pulcrano improved on her 3rd place seeding to finish in second. What a great start to finals!
Having gone a 5:00.95 in the 400 IM prelim swims, Sara Mendoza had her eyes set on breaking the 5:00 mark...and boy did she ever! Swimming from start to finish with 100% focus, not only did she swim a 4:53.69, she also came from behind to out-touch a SCIAC competitor to improve her final placing.
Senior #2, Adam Kantor, had what turned into an inspiring performance for the men that set a positive tone for the evening. Having finished 7th in the morning, the field was bunched together and any position from 3-8 was open. With an underwater kick that was lethal, Adam improved to finish in a 52.11 and place 5th.
And finally, senior #3, Jeven Dovey, showed that just because there are no LZR's doesn't mean you can't swim faster! In just a speedo brief, Jeven swam a personal best of 59.64 in the 100 Breaststroke to finish in 5th place and cement himself as one of the best breaststrokers in Occidental history.
Now that we talked about all of the seniors, how about we finish Day 2's highlights with a first-year that I am truly proud of. Alena Morris dropped 3 seconds from her season best to finish her first finals in a 1:00.77 (100 Butterfly).
As I sign off, it's hard to describe the energy and cheering that is taking place by our squad. Once we return back to the home of the Occidental Swimming & Diving squad, look for serious, competitive...and maybe a few funny pictures. Take care!
-Alex Kuhn
Sunday, February 21, 2010
First Day of Competition
WOW! What an amazing first day of competition. After all was said and done, both the men and women stood in 5th place, each getting to their respective positions with different highlights.
The team awarded Danielle Garcia as Oxy performer of the day as she took on a very challenging task of swimming both relays, plus swimming in the competitive 200 IM and 50 freestyle. She placed in each of the events and helped the 200 Free Relay establish the 2nd fastest performance in Oxy History.
Rewriting the history books was the quartet of Stephen Ratkovich, Miner Ross, Zach Condon, and Adam Kantor. With a time of 1:26.12, the fearsome foursome broke the school record that was previously established in 1995!
The competition has been fast, but Oxy has not only risen up to the challenge, but also has improved upon it's position heading into the Championship.
Tomorrow, the color of the day is Black! Get those Oxy shirts out and send a "Io Triumphe" at 9am.
The team awarded Danielle Garcia as Oxy performer of the day as she took on a very challenging task of swimming both relays, plus swimming in the competitive 200 IM and 50 freestyle. She placed in each of the events and helped the 200 Free Relay establish the 2nd fastest performance in Oxy History.
Rewriting the history books was the quartet of Stephen Ratkovich, Miner Ross, Zach Condon, and Adam Kantor. With a time of 1:26.12, the fearsome foursome broke the school record that was previously established in 1995!
The competition has been fast, but Oxy has not only risen up to the challenge, but also has improved upon it's position heading into the Championship.
Tomorrow, the color of the day is Black! Get those Oxy shirts out and send a "Io Triumphe" at 9am.
First SCIAC Champion....From Occidental!
Junior Sarah Sharpe is the SCIACs first winner as she scored 405.75 to win by over 30 points. Not only did Sharpe perform "oxy-some", Marisa took 3rd place to also earn All-Conference honors.
Sunday Prelims - Amazing Start!!!
This note comes to you live from the Belmont Plaza as the Oxy Swimming & Diving squad competes at the SCIAC Championships! After preliminary swims of the first day, how is the team doing? One Word - Amazing! Here are some of the highlights from the meet.
- The 500 freestyle group dropped a combined 135 seconds!! Highlights include Zach Condon finaling with a time of 4:48.37, with Austrn Oliver placing 15th in a 4:55.84
- The 200 IM saw a personal best by Danielle Garcia (15th and in consols) and Jeven Dovey (1:58.32 - 6th). From the coaches corner, this is the event he expects thie biggest time drops from morning swims.
- My o My the 50! Placing 14-15-16 is the youth movement of sprints, first-years Lauren Howarth, Danielle Garcia, and Alena Morris will battle in a field that is wide open. With 3 guys swimming under the 22 mark, Adam Kantot will lead the charge in consols as he placed 10th after prelims.
More to come, stay tuned to the Wide World of Oxy Swimming & Diving.
- The 500 freestyle group dropped a combined 135 seconds!! Highlights include Zach Condon finaling with a time of 4:48.37, with Austrn Oliver placing 15th in a 4:55.84
- The 200 IM saw a personal best by Danielle Garcia (15th and in consols) and Jeven Dovey (1:58.32 - 6th). From the coaches corner, this is the event he expects thie biggest time drops from morning swims.
- My o My the 50! Placing 14-15-16 is the youth movement of sprints, first-years Lauren Howarth, Danielle Garcia, and Alena Morris will battle in a field that is wide open. With 3 guys swimming under the 22 mark, Adam Kantot will lead the charge in consols as he placed 10th after prelims.
More to come, stay tuned to the Wide World of Oxy Swimming & Diving.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
SCIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS - HOME OF THE OXY UPDATES!!!!
Please check our blog out for your most up-to-date happenings of the Oxy Swimming & Diving Family at SCIAC's.
In the mean time...just remember this cheer will be sung a lot this weekend!
In the mean time...just remember this cheer will be sung a lot this weekend!
Io Triumphe! Io Triumphe!
Haben Swaben, Rebeka le Animor
Whoopty Whoopty, Shelerdy Veridy
Boomdy Raldy Idee-pah
Honeka-heneka Whacka Whacka
Hobdob Boldebara-Boldebara
Com-slomidy Hob-Dob-Rah!
O.C. Rah!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Great Start to SCIAC's!!!!
Junior's Sarah Sharpe & Marisa Pulcrano finished 1-2 on the 3m and 1-3 on the 1m boards this past weekend! Each qualified for the Championship Final, which will be held at Belmont Plaza on Feb 21-22. You gotta check out the story from the first day (and the great pictures).
http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/sd/2009-10/021310wsd_DivingPrelims
http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/sd/2009-10/021310wsd_DivingPrelims
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Occidental Senior Day!!!
Austen Oliver running through the "Oxy Tunnel"
Group Hug just before their "Io Triumphe" Cheer!
From Left to Right, Sara Mendoza, Audrey Akcasu, Will Carlson, Adam Kantor, Jeven Dovey, and Austen Oliver.
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