This past Saturday, Jan. 25, the Case Western Reserve University swimming and diving teams swept Oberlin College during a home meet that took place in Veale Natatorium. The men’s team prevailed 231-57 over the Yeomen with wins in 15 out of 16 events, while the women’s team defeated the Yeowomen 242-51 and swept all 16 of their events. With both teams improving 4-1 in dual meets, the day also marked the annual Senior Day for the women’s swimming and diving team; before the meet commenced, the 21 graduating members of the women’s team were celebrated for their accomplishments during their time on the team.
“I’ve been a swimmer my entire life and it has shaped who I’ve become, so even though it’s very exciting to be moving onto the next phase of my life, I will always miss training and competing as a swimmer,” fourth-year swimmer Kate Menzer said. “[My teammates] constantly inspire and motivate me to be a better athlete, student, and overall person. I’m so thankful for the connections and friendships I’ve formed with my teammates, and though our season is ending soon, I know we will stay close.”
“Of course, it was a very emotional moment getting to walk out during the senior ceremony since that was something I have watched happen for the past three years but now it was my turn to walk out with my other senior teammates,” fourth-year Gabriella Chambers said. “I have been very lucky to swim with such great teammates throughout my time with the team at CWRU, and I have been able to grow both as a teammate and as a competitive athlete.”
As part of CWRU’s sweep, numerous Spartans on the women’s team displayed their exceptional skills throughout this special day for many of them. Menzer won the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 1:03.37 and touched the wall first in the 200-yard breaststroke with a 2:29.11 time. Third-year Claire Kozma claimed the gold in the 50-yard freestyle (24.38) and 100-yard freestyle (53.94), while second-year Ava Ellis claimed victories in the 500-yard freestyle (5:19.28) and 200-yard individual medley (2:14.49). Both diving events were swept by fourth-year Abigail Wilkov as she scored 265.05 in the 1-meter dive and 275.47 in the 3-meter dive.
Kozma was also part of the victorious 200-yard medley relay team with her teammates first-year Sayjel Tan, second-year Lillian Paley and graduate student Amy Evans. They finished with a time of 1:50.97 to give CWRU a resounding victory to kick off the meet, going hand in hand with the Spartan victory in one of the last events of the day: the 200-yard freestyle relay. The victory came courtesy of Chambers, third-year Eliza Dixon, first-year Marina Oria and second-year Sheila Monera Cabarique with a finishing time of 1:40.27.
With the Spartan sweep came numerous solo wins throughout the day, which are as follows: second-year Maggie Rose Rook in the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.05), Tan in the 50-yard backstroke (27.85), third-year Julia Cho in the 50-yard breaststroke (32.79), fourth-year Selah Dean in the 200-yard butterfly (2:12.22), third-year Lauren Valentine in the 200-yard backstroke (2:09.54) and fourth-year Nara Lee in the 50-yard butterfly (26.70).
A similarly wide range of success was displayed by the men’s team. They, too, kicked off the meet with a bang thanks to a first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay (1:31.53) from the group of third-year swimmers Emil LaSida, Julian Kim, William Froass and Mason Bencurik; LaSida, Froass, Bencurik, and fellow third-year Ben Borvendeg would go on to bookend the men’s team’s success with a 1:23.69 first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay—the very last event of the meet.
Between these two relay events, the men’s team showed off their strengths with wins throughout the day. Fourth-year Peter Meng achieved a trio of wins in the 200-yard freestyle (1:42.58), 200-yard backstroke (1:54.30) and 200-yard individual medley (1:54.18). Fourth-year Nico Billoni swept the diving events with scores of 264.22 and 279.22 in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives, respectively. First-year Vladimir Shibalov placed first in the 200-yard butterfly (1:57.40), fourth-year Jiro Batt took the gold in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:11.58) and fourth-year Griffin Gushman touched the wall first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:44.95).
The aforementioned men’s relay swimmers also achieved wins of their own accord. LaSida bagged the 100-yard individual medley (52.56) and 100-yard freestyle (46.93) contests, Kim scored a win in the 50-yard breaststroke (26.18), Froass achieved victory in the 50-yard butterfly (22.67) and Bencurik took the gold in the 50-yard freestyle (21.27).
The swimming and diving teams will look to continue their success this coming Saturday, Feb. 1, when they will compete in their final dual meet of the season while hosting Kenyon College. The day will also mark Senior Day for the men’s swimming and diving teams, where graduating members of the men’s team will be celebrated for their accomplishments over the past several years.
“I am looking forward to supporting and celebrating [the men’s team seniors],” Menzer said. “I want to cherish every moment of it. At the same time, we’re competing against the top team in our division, so my goal is to get my hand to the wall as fast as possible and score as many points as I can for CWRU.”