MALIBU, Calif. – In a bit of a positive coincidence, both UC Santa Barbara Men's and Women's Swim defeated teams from the University of Hawai'i by exactly 96 points. The two schools squared off on Pepperdine's campus for the Gaucho's third intra-conference meet. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

When you win 23 of 28 events, it's telling of a good day in the pool. Samantha Banos was one of the key contributors to the team's success. She took the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.01), 500-yard freestyle (4:52.17), and 200-yard butterfly (1:58.92). She also swam in the fourth position for the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team alongside Miranda Stevenson, Alexi Zuckerman, and Hazel Derr (1:33.31). Derr, who is coming off a recent Big West Swimmer of the Week Award, also notched multiple victories: 100-yard backstroke (55.21); 200-yard backstroke (1:59.78); 200-yard medley relay (1:40.55 with Ashley Ray, Makena Leacox, Alexi Zuckerman). Freshman Miranda Stevenson made some noise too – winning the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.45) and 50-yard freestyle (23.21).

Bryden Thielenhaus swam on two winning relay teams: the 200-yard medley (1:28.02 with William Cussimanio, Kyle Brill, Mason Wendler) and 200-yard freestyle (1:19.77 with Austin Sparrow, Zachary Tamusaitis, Matt Driscoll). Sparrow supplemented his strong senior season with individual victories in the 200-yard freestyle (1:37.04) and 100-yard freestyle (44.18). Kyle Brill is another fourth-year excelling in the water. He took the 100-yard breaststroke at 54.05 as well as the 200-yarder at 1:58.37. With the IM as his forte, Brill won his third event of the day in the 400-yarder (3:48.18). Clocking in at 47.77 seconds netted Matt Driscoll first in the 100-yard backstroke. He also captured the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 48.03.

Five more Gauchos got winter-time presents in the form of victories. Taber daCosta went the distance in the 100-yard freestyle (9.15.38). Owen Bohi backed into first place in the 200-yard backstroke (1:49.04). Mason Wendler won with style in the 500-yard freestyle (4:30.49). Makena Leacox flew to victory in the 100-yard butterfly. Last but not least, Amelie Ogilby was number one in the 400-yard IM (4:23.23).

UP NEXT

Santa Barbara starts the new year in Riverside, Calif. on Saturday, Jan. 4 against UNLV and Cal Baptist at 11 a.m.