RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara Men's and Women's Swim started the new year off strong against Cal Baptist and UNLV. The Gauchos combined to outpace the Lancers 313.50 to 118.50, and the Rebels 231.00 to 201.00.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The start of 2025 saw Santa Barbara successfully compete in new events for the first time this season. The relay team of Austin Sparrow, Matt Driscoll, Samantha Banos, and Miranda Stevenson captured the 400-yard mixed medley relay (3:36.92). Matt Driscoll, Austin Sparrow, Eugenie Lanilis, and Miranda Stevenson were another relay team that found glory – they won the 300-yard mixed freestyle relay (2:20.48).

The Gauchos found themselves competing in 25, 75, and 150-yard events for the first time this season too. CoCo Quill won the 75-yard backstroke (41.62) and Ashley Ray took the 75-yard breaststroke (46.80). The women's team didn't stop there. Samantha Banos added a victory in the 150-yard butterfly (1:28.87), Hazel Derr won the 150-yard backstroke (1:30.57), and Lucy Huang rounded out the group with gold in the 150-yard breaststroke (1:43.67). Alexi Zuckerman won the 25-yard freestyle (11.18) earlier in the day, and finished second in the 25-yard freestyle bracket later in the day (11.04). Austin Sparrow also made it to the 25-yard freestyle finals coming up 0.06 seconds from first (9.50).

Bryden Thielenhaus had himself a day. The sophomore won the 150-yard butterfly (1:19.31) and 75-yard butterfly (35.74) then teamed up in the first position to win the 400-yard freestyle relay (alongside Kyle Brill, Elek Zettle, and Jack Hendrick – 2:46.99). Although 2024 is over, Kyle Brill's excellence in IM events isn't. He won the 200-yarder at 1:51.10.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos return to the Beehive state to take on the BYU Cougars on Friday, Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. They then travel to the University of Utah to square off against the Utes and UCLA Bruins in a dual meet Saturday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m.