Caltech Swim & Dive opened the season with a resounding victory in a tri-meet at the Braun pools on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The Beavers defeated Soka University of America 223-38 and The Master's University (Calif.) 162.5-115.5 in overall points. Caltech was victorious in 10 different events on the day.
"I thought the team raced and dove well," Head Coach Andy Brabson said. "It was a solid start to the season and a good place to build from."
Four Beavers set program top-10 times on Saturday. First-year Elizabeth Nguyen (Renton, Wash. / Hazen High School) swam the 100-yard Breaststroke in 1:10.62, the seventh-fastest Caltech time ever, en route to winning the event. First-year Alyssa Kwon's 100-yard Individual Medley was the third-fastest in Caltech history at 1:01.98. Nicholas Bai (San Diego, Calif. / Scripps Ranch High School) swam the men's 100-IM in 54.99, good enough for sixth on the Caltech top 10 progressions list. First-year Jack Yu (Albuquerque, N.M. / Albuquerque Academy) swam that same race in 55.27 for the ninth-fastest time in Caltech history.
On the diving side, Senior Jana Woo (Saratoga, Calif. / Monta Vista) won the 3m diving with a score of 287.40 and was named the SCIAC Diver of the Week. Sophomore Ava Balanon (Vacaville Calif. / Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy) won the women's 1-meter diving scoring 267.60. Sophomore Anthony Wang (San Jose, Calif. / Evergreen Valley) won both the men's 3-meter diving (287.10) and 1-meter diving (244.45). All three divers hit the NCAA regional standard in the 3-meter diving event.
Between the lane lines, Nguyen was also victorious in the 50-yard Breaststroke with a finals time of 32.70. Bai won the 50-yard Backstroke in 25.66. Senior Simon Hu (Clarksville, Md. / River Hill) tapped the wall first in the 200-yard freestyle, winning the race in 1:45.66. Sophomore Thomas Fenton's (Lynchburg, Va. / Virginia Episcopal School) 27.04 50-yard Breaststroke earned a first-place finish. First-year Daniel Polakoff (San Juan Capistrano, Calif. / Choate Rosemary Hall) won the 50-yard Freestyle in 22.22. Sophomore Aaron Dumas (San Diego, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic) won the 100-yard Backstroke with a time of 56.06.
Caltech Swim and Dive opens the SCIAC season Saturday, Nov. 8 when it hosts Occidental at the Braun Pools at 10:30 a.m.
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