MALIBU, Calif. -  After embarking on a road trip to Malibu, Calif., the Gauchos secured two victories against the UC San Diego Tritons and the Pepperdine Waves. The men's team faced off against UC San Diego, securing a sweep against the Tritons. The women's team showcased their prowess against both UC San Diego and Pepperdine, securing an exhilarating win against the Waves but narrowly missing out on a victory against the Tritons.

Consistency is Key

The day was marked by an abundance of first-place victories, as the Gauchos clinched an impressive 17 out of the day's 28 events. UC Santa Barbara's standout athletes, Samantha Banos, Kyle Brill, and Austin Sparrow, once again showcased their exceptional talents this afternoon, securing multiple gold medals each. Banos exhibited her prowess by claiming first place in all three of her individual events, dominating the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.42), the 200-yard butterfly (1:59.82), and the 100-yard butterfly (59.41). Brill also proved his talents by finishing first in his individual events, with a remarkable performance in the 200-yard backstroke (1:45.96) and the 400-yard individual medley race (3:53.57). Austin Sparrow maintained his consistent excellence, securing first place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:37.12) and the 500-yard freestyle (4:26.90). Sparrow's impact extended beyond individual events, as he played a pivotal role in the men's 400-yard freestyle relay first place victory, alongside teammates Matt Driscoll, Rob Carpenter, and Zachary Tamusaitis (2:57.25).

Other First Place Finishes 

Numerous other Gauchos achieved remarkable victories during the afternoon. The men's team celebrated triumphs in the 1650 free courtesy of Taber DaCosta (15:33.32), the 200 butterfly, led by Billy Picht (1:49.43), and the 100 butterfly, where Zachary Tamusaitis blazed to victory with a swift time of 48.27. Corban McIntosh and Matt Driscoll also both had standout performances, securing multiple victories during the day. McIntosh claimed the top spot in the 100-yard breaststroke (55.16) and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:01.50), while Driscoll dominated in the 100-yard backstroke (47.94) and the 50-yard freestyle (20.59). 

Turning to the women's team, Junior Sophie Ryan delivered an exceptional performance with a dominant victory in the 500-yard freestyle, completing the demanding race in 5:03.29.

Taking a Break 

After today's meet, the Gauchos will have three weeks off to rest and prepare for the mid season Zippy Invitational in Akron, Oh. Follow along for more information as the event draws closer.