The Case Western Reserve University swimming and diving team have won two straight events to open the spring portion of their 2023-2024 season. Traveling to Buffalo on Jan. 20, New York, the men’s team defeated SUNY Geneseo 162-136 while the women’s team won 187.5-112.5. This past weekend on Jan. 27, both teams dominated again, with the men winning it 226-68 and the women’s team taking it 252-44 on home court in Veale Natatorium. For the whole season, both teams stand at an undefeated 5-0.
Against Geneseo, the women’s team notched 11 victories led by third-year Gabriella Chambers, who brought in three wins. She won the 100- and 200-yard freestyle races with times of 52.98 and 1:57.12, respectively before joining forces with third-year Kelly Vann and second-years Eliza Dixon and Claire Kozma to place first in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:38.07.
Kozma managed to tie in the 100 fly with Geneseo athlete Alise Hale at 59.12. Third-year Erica Rice won the 100 backstroke and the 200 breaststroke with the times 1:00.36 and 2:32.42 respectively while third-year Elishka Bailey finished the backstroke sweep with a time of 2:08.81 after winning the 200 event. To round off the swimming events, first-year Maggie Rose Rook won the 500 freestyle and third-year Kate Menzer took the 200 individual medley.
The women’s team also swept the diving events, as third-year Abigail Wilkov took the 1-meter drive with a score of 268.30 while third-year Jocelyn Schechter won the 3-meter dive after scoring 283.75.
Meanwhile, the men’s team earned eight wins. Third-year Peter Meng recorded three victories, taking the 200 freestyle, the 500 freestyle and the 200 individual medley. Fourth-year Ethan Chuang owned both breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 58.28 seconds and the 200 in 2:10.27. Second-year Emil LaSida won the 100 backstroke, fourth-year Sean Yetter took first in the 1000 freestyle and second-year John Drumm rounded out the victories with the top performance in the 100 fly finishing at 52:47 seconds.
The teams were similarly dominant against the Oberlin meet. This time, it was Kozma who spearheaded the victory, taking two individual and two team events. She won the 50 fly in 26.26 seconds and the 200 freestyle in 1:56.00. Kozma teamed with Rice, Menzer and Chambers for the 200 medley relay and with third-year Angeli Paull, Vann and Chambers for the 400 freestyle relay.
Chambers also claimed the 50 freestyle, Menzer won the 100 individual medley and Paull placed first in the 100 freestyle. Third-years Amelia Myhrvold, Madison McDaniels and Bailey claimed the 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke and 200 backstroke, respectively.
Second-year Lauren Valentine came in first for the 500 freestyle while fellow second-year Kailyn Smith won the 200 fly. To finish off the individual events, first-years Erin Butler and Lillian Paley won the 1650 freestyle and the 200 breaststroke, respectively.
Wilkov swept the diving events, scoring 287.93 in the 1-meter dive and 284.63 in the 3-meter dive.
The Spartans celebrated Senior Day against Oberlin, honoring Chuang, Yetter, Sydney Criscitiello, Emma Guarnieri, Elena Igic, Neeraj Javadekar, Zoe Michos, Rei Miyauchi, Maria Pritchett, Casey Slaterbeck and Alex Sorensen.
For the men’s team, LaSida set a school record in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 20.44 seconds and beating his own previous record of 20.58 seconds. LaSida also touched the wall first in the 100 individual medley after 51.25 seconds and joined third-year Ben Zuo, second-year Mason Bencurik and Chuang for first in the medley relay.
Meng placed first in the 200 freestyle and in the 200 breaststroke with times of 1:42.45 and 2:05.92, respectively. Bencurik won the 100 freestyle. In 3:09.25 minutes, Meng, Zuo and third-year Jackson Pollard and Stephen Hogeman won the 400 freestyle relay. Pollard and second-year Ben Borvendeg tied for first in the 50 fly after both touching the wall at 23.12 seconds. Drumm added two wins in the 200 fly and 500 freestyle. To cap off the wins, second-year Tyler Ahten won the 50-meter backstroke, second-year Julian Kim took the 50 breaststroke and first-year Michael Boelens won the 200 backstroke.
Third-year Alex Waltman also swept the diving events, winning the 1-meter dive with 276.68 points and the 3-meter dive with 265.50 points.
The Spartans will be traveling to Kenyon College on Feb. 3 to compete in their final dual meet of the season before heading out to Chicago for the UAA Championships from Feb. 14-17.