Freshmen swimmers shine in season-opening victory

10/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving

Abilene, Texas - The TCU swimmers and divers swept the Indians of McMurry in the men and women's events on Thursday. The men were victorious by a score of 100-91, while the women won 107-92.

10 of the 11 freshmen on the team participated Thursday morning. Of those 10, five earned their first collegiate victories, including Meredith Grubb (100-breast), Natalie Melenric (100-free), Jennifer Stenman (100-fly), Ben Biefnes (200-IM) and Stuart Silver (200-free).

Sophomore Sarah Bardwell took the top spot in the 200-IM with a time of 2:17.13, while teammate Michelle Pottenger was the champion in the 200-free event (2:01.24). Seniors Kendra Jackson and Keleigh Wentworth also came away with wins. Jackson won the 50-free event with a time of 26.00, and Wentworth took the 100-back in a time of 1:02.43. Junior Emily Duerringer was also victorious, winning the 500-free (5:29.81).

On the men's side, Senior Alejandro Gomez took the 50-free with a time of 22.86, while fellow senior Yousif Del Valle won the 500-free (5:04.81). In addition, Cameron Allred was the champion of the 100-back (57.98), and Stephen Ferry was the winner in the 100-free event (49.77).

For the TCU divers, sophomores R.J. Hesselberg and Hannah Hale scored wins in the 1-meter diving event. Hesselberg recorded a score of 243.68, while Hale won with a score of 167.55.

The TCU freshmen were also very successful in the relay events. The women won the 200-yard medley (1:53.75) with Crystal Shipps, Stephanie Futscher, Meredith Grubb and Natalie Melenric. Grubb, Shipps, Melenric and Stenman also won the women's 200-free relay event (1:42.75). For the men, the freshmen team of Josh Bagby, Alex Swisher, Ben Biefnes and Stuart Silver took the 200-yard medley relay (1:41.23), while the veteran unit of Jason Hauck, George Gooch, Alejandro Gomez and Scott McCracken won the 200-free relay (1:31.27).

Other impressive showings came from freshmen Chas Murphey and Crystal Shipps. Murphey was the runner-up in the 100-breast, and Shipps placed second in the 100-back behind Wentworth.

For complete coverage of tonight's meet against UTPB in Midlands, Texas, visit www.gofrogs.com.