Tigers Down Leopards in the Pool

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2007) – On a day that rain poured down steadily, the water didn’t hold the Tigers down in their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener. Occidental College defeated the University of La Verne Leopards 161-73 at Taylor pool today. 

Oxy’s diving duo of Celeste Faber and Kyle Owens swept the top two spots both the one meter (233.85, 209.75) and three meter (245.30, 212.65) events respectively today at the Rose Bowl.

Sara Ajifu won both of her events, the 200 freestyle (2:06.64) and 100 freestyle (58.59), in the meet with teammate Eileen McMillan finishing second with times of 2:08.17 and 59.99.

Occidental completed a 1-2-3 sweep in the 500 freestyle as Erin Brinton finished in 5:32.95 ahead of  Robin Hamilton and Mallory Kaufman Hamilton took the top spot in the 1000 freestyle (12:06.57)  as the first individual event of the meet.

Earning the top two spots in the 200 breaststroke were Jessica Abenstein (2:49.30) and Katie Bush (2:53.30). Also earning first place finishes were Claire Coddington and Renae Rykaczewski. Coddington swam the 50 freestyle in 26.83 touching the wall .06 ahead of ULV’s Mahina Nelli Reyes. Rykaczewski swam the 200 backstroke in 2:21.15, seven seconds faster than the Leopards top finisher.

Coddington, Sara Mendoza, McMillan and Brinton combined to win the 200 yard free relay in 1:49.87 to cap off meet for the Tigers.

Oxy will travel to Claremont, Calif. tomorrow to take on the Athenas. Diving is set to begin at 10:30 with swimming events starting at 11:00 a.m.