Swim & Dive Takes First at Wyatt Balman Invitational

Azusa Pacific finished atop the team standings at the Wyatt Balman Invitational, with the Cougars taking first place in nine different events in the lanes. On the boards, Allison Ferrer had an NCAA Qualification combined score in the one-meter dive.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - Azusa Pacific swimming & diving has been progressing and improving with each meet so far this season, and on Saturday morning at the Wyatt Balman Invitational, the Cougars took another step in the right direction. Azusa Pacific finished atop of the team standings, scoring 833 points. The Cougars finished first in eight events in the pool.

"The team competed well today with a focus on our upcoming Winter Invitational," said head coach Tim Kyle, "We are in a good place to compete at a high level next week with three days of competition. We are suited up and ready to race!"

Connor Herrin claimed the Cougars' first win of the day, as she was first to the wall in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:01.63. The Cougars swept one through four in the event, with Ellie Sivesind (2nd - 1:01.70), Amanda Anderson (3rd - 1:01.99) and Kya Guikema (1:03.08) following Herrin.

Montana White and Delanie Gearing placed one, two in the 100 yard breaststroke, with White winning on a time of 1:08.22, and Gearing clocking in at 1:09.00. A few events later in the 200 butterfly, Azusa Pacific had another pair of athletes take first and second, as Marcelina Halawczak won in a time of 2:13.33, and Victoria Alfaro took second (2:13.41).

Riley Lawler had a career-best day in the 1000 free, as she swam a time of 11:19.24 to win the event for the Cougars.

Guikema, who was last week's PCSC Freshman of the Week, was the first place finisher in the 200 back, finishing at 2:16.23. In the next event, the 200 breast, Delanie Gearing earned the Cougars' sixth first place spot of the meet, winning with a time of 2:29.31.

White earned her second event win of the meet in the 100 butterfly, swimming a time of 57.54, and she then won her third race of the day in the 200 IM, in which she touched the wall at 2:10.58.

Diving: In the one-meter competition (11 dive list), Allison Ferrer took second place with a score of 401.15. With the performance, Ferrer earned an NCAA Qualification combined scored for the height.

Up Next: The Cougars are now gearing up for the Winter Invitational this upcoming weekend, which will be held in Monterey Park on Friday, November 17, through Sunday, November 19.