AKRON,OH: After two days at the Zippy Invitational, the Gauchos are holding their ground as a strong contender this weekend. Currently, both the men's and women's teams are sitting in second place. The men's team has a total of 655.5 points, just 41.5 points behind Cornell (697), and the women's team has 623 points, trailing the University of Akron (800) by 177 points.

The day featured six individual events and two relay races, each divided into preliminary and final race times. Among the final results, the Gauchos secured four top-three wins. The first triumph came from Sophomore Annie Andres in the women's 500-yard freestyle, where she clinched first place with an impressive time of 4:51.44. Following Andres's success, Junior Matt Driscoll secured a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle, outpacing his competition with a time of 19.98. Junior Kyle Brill once again demonstrated his skills, claiming third place in the men's 200-yard individual medley (1:47.43). Additionally, Junior Taber DaCosta earned another third-place victory in the men's 500-yard freestyle, showcasing his speed with a swift time of 4:24.51.

UC Santa Barbara lived up to expectations in the relay events, ensuring a memorable performance. The highlight of today's final races was the 400-yard medley relay, where the men's team, composed of Matt Driscoll, Corban McIntosh, Zachary Tamusaitis, and Austin Sparrow, clinched a golden finish, outpacing their competition with an impressive time of 3:09.78. The women's team, featuring Hazel Derr, Ashley Ray, Tyryn Empremsilapa, and Samantha Banos, also secured victory, claiming third place in the event with a commendable time of 3:41.31.

The Zippy Invitational is set to continue throughout tomorrow and Sunday. Don't forget to tune in live at 6:00 AM (PT), and be sure to check back at the end of the day for a comprehensive recap of the Gauchos' performance.