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!
