SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Competing in their first meet in almost a year, the UC Santa Barbara men's and women's swim teams won dual meets against rival Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo on Saturday. Both teams won emphatically, as the men beat the Mustangs 174-114 and the women won 171-120. Reigning MPSF Freshman of the Year Dominic Falcon led the men, ending the day with three individual first-place finishes. Freshman Danielle Carter and junior Molly McCance cleaned up on the women's side, each earning three individual first-place finishes. Santa Barbara dominated the women's 100 Free and men's 200 Breast events, taking the top three spots in both. The Gauchos also swept the relays, touching first in all four, including in the 200 Medley Relay in which the men took first and second.
"It felt great to be back on deck at Cal Poly. Our team wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to race as we haven't had a meet since February," said head coach Matt Macedo. "We had a number of strong swims with everyone who traveled scoring points. Both groups did an excellent job supporting each other and it was especially satisfying to see all three seniors pick up individual and relay wins in their final college dual meet."
Falcon finished first in the 200 Fly (1:48.85), 500 Free (4:36.15), and 200 IM (1:53.60). Fifth-year senior Ryan Levy had a strong showing as well, taking individual first-place finishes in the 100 Free (46.43) and 200 Free (1:40.43), while also anchoring the first-place 400 Free Relay team. Junior Alec Cullen added two first-place wins of his own in the 100 Breast (56.17) and 200 Breast (2:02.47). Other first-place finishers on the men's side were sophomore Daniel Pry in the 200 Back (1:52.38) and junior Timothy Lee in the 100 Fly (50.02).
On the women's side, McCance placed first in the 200 Fly (2:03.78), 100 Free (53.48), and 500 Free (5:09.48). In what was Carter's first collegiate meet, she touched first in the 100 Back (54.85), 200 Back (2:02.00), and 100 Fly (57.48). Freshman Katie Nugent and Paige Gambetta also impressed in their collegiate debuts, Nugent winning both the 100 and 200 Breast (1:06.78 and 2:24.10) and Gambetta taking first the 200 Free (1:55.03) and second in the 200 Back (2:06.25). Senior captain Bryn McGowan earned first place honors in the 50 Free (24.48), junior Dora Seggelke in the 200 IM (2:11.12), and sophomore Maelynn Lawrence in the 1000 Free (10:45.48).
"We know we have some things to work on before our conference meet and we appreciate Cal Poly putting together a safe competition," said Macedo.
The Gauchos will continue to train for this years' MPSF Championship meet which is tentatively scheduled for mid-February.
