Greyhound swimming and diving teams begin first competitions of the season
By Cecelia Perdomo
Staff Writer
The women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams competed against Ashland University on Oct. 20.
Senior Ellie Miller won the women’s 1,000 freestyle posting a time of 10:40.24 and freshman Alican Alacli set a new UIndy record for the 1,000 freestyle (9:34:66).
In the 200 women’s freestyle junior Isabela Tafur recorded 1:56.53 time for her second B-cut qualifying mark. Tafur also won the women’s 100 freestyle.
Sophomore Erica Smith won the 200-yard Individual Medley posting a time of 2:14.59.
“The men won confidently. The women won, which was a bit of a surprise. Ashland’s time the week before was better, and I thought they could beat our women,” Kinkead said.
Both teams placed second in the Indiana Intercollegiates Division I competition Oct.13, behind Purdue University and ahead of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
The event was hosted by Purdue at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center in West Lafayette.
“Being a Division II program, I think it’s really good that we can get in there and compete against Division I programs like IUPUI and Purdue. It was a first event for freshmen,” said head coach Gary Kinkead.
Junior Alex Arestis posted a time of 46.86 in the men’s freestyle earning an NCAA B-cut qualifying mark.
For the women’s team, Tafur was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Female Swimmer of the Week for her performance in the 100-freestyle.
“It made me feel better and helps me look forward to the season,” Tafur said.
A week after Tafur won GLIAC Athlete of the Week, Alacli was elected GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Week.
Both the women’s and men’s swim teams have practiced hard Kinkead said.
“We max out [the] 20 hours a week that the NCAA allows us to practice. We utilize that to the best of our abilities,” Kinkead.
According to Kinkead, the women’s team this year is much younger than last year and is bonding well. Also he said last year it was more about individuals.
“The strengths of the men’s team is a lot more depth in each of them. In the past, we had one good swimmer in each event or each stroke. Now we have two to four that go far deeper in strength,” Kinkead said.
UIndy traveled to Truman State University to compete in a two-day event on Nov. 2 and 3. Truman’s women’s team was second at nationals last year.
Results were not available for Truamn State Invitaional as of The Reflector press time.
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving team will next compete in the Wabash Invitational on Nov. 16.
