Swimming & Diving Opens Year with Sweep of La Salle

Friday, October 25

Daskalakis Athletic Center

5 p.m.

Drexel University

180

117

La Salle

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

Swimming & Diving Opens Year with Sweep of La Salle

10/25/2019 9:09:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Results

PHILADELPHIA – Drexel men's and women's swimming and diving started off the 2019-20 season on the right foot with a sweep of city rival La Salle. The women's team nearly doubled up the Explorers, 194.5-99.5, while the men enjoyed a 180-117 victory.

All told, the Dragons won 21 contested events on Friday. The men's team swept every contested singles event.

"Tonight was a great first step towards our ultimate goals at the end of the year," head swimming coach Adam Braun said. "I am really happy with the energy and effort from the entire team. I am also looking forward to seeing how the team responds tomorrow as we travel to Seton Hall, who has been racing well this year."

Friday started with a pair of wins in the 200 medley relay. The team of Alexa Kutch, Megan Sicinski, Lera Nasedkina and Alicia Diaz combined for a time of 1:45.62. On the men's side, Jason Arthur, Zachary Valenzuela, Paris Raptis and John Scully clocked in at 1:32.51.

Kutch swept both backstroke events to up her win total to three. She touched the wall at 56.59 in the 100 back as the Dragons finished first through third in the event. In the 200 back, she won with nearly a full second to spare – finishing at 2:03.67.

Sicinski added a second win in the 200 breast, edging out teammate Gabrielle Rudy with a time of 2:21.36. Drexel had the top-three placers in the race.

In her Drexel debut, Nasedkina tied for first in the 100 fly. She and Emily Wolbert touched the wall at 59.35.

Diaz topped the field in the 100 free with a time of 53.16.

Arthur swept the backstroke events as well. He turned in a time of 50.93 in the 100 back while finishing the 200 back in 1:52.21.

Valenzuela added two wins in the breastroke. He won the 200 breast with nearly three seconds to spare, turning in a time of 2:07.88. He also cruised to victory in the 100 breast, touching the wall at 57.92.

A third Dragon, Paris Raptis, swept the butterfly events. He finished over two seconds ahead of the field in the 200 fly at 1:50.17. His margin was even larger in the 100 fly, where he finished in 48.67.

Scully edged out teammate Kiran Richardson to win the 50 free. The Horsham, Pa. native turned in a time of 21.25 to best Richardson's mark of 21.28.

Including Nasedkina, four Drexel debutants won events in their first meet for the Dragons. Ryann Styer topped Nasedkina in the 50 free, winning the event with a time of 24.51. A pair of freshmen, Maddie Riley and Jake McBride, won two events apiece.

Riley took first place in the 1000 and 500 free, winning the 500 free by one-tenth of a second. The native of Austin, Texas touched the wall at 5:08.87 in the 500 free. The 1000 free would be no contest as Riley finished with a time of 10:28.67 – some seven seconds faster than the closest competitor.

McBride followed the lead of his fellow freshman with wins in the 1000 and 500 free as well – dominating the field in both races. He finished close to a full two seconds faster than the field in the 500 free with a time of 4:44.75. In the 1000 free, McBride touched the wall at 9:50.09, over eight seconds faster than the second-place swimmer.

Not to be outdone by the youngbloods, Stathis Malamas swept his freestyle events. The senior won the 200 free by over a minute, finishing at 1:41.67. The 100 free would be closer, but Malamas still emerged the victor with a time of 45.98.

Rudy took first place in the 100 breast with a time of 1:04.06 as the Dragons finished first, second and third in the race.

On the boards, Becca Demaree claimed first place by a razor-thin margin. Demaree scored a 268.88, just .23 points ahead of second place.

The Dragons face a quick turnaround as they compete at Seton Hall on Saturday at 1 p.m.

FIRST PLACE
Women's 200 medley relay – Alexa Kutch, Megan Sicinski, Lera Nasedkina, Alicia Diaz – 1:45.62

Men's 200 medley relay – Jason Arthur, Zachary Valenzuela, Paris Raptis, John Scully – 1:32.51

Women's 1000 free – Maddie Riley – 10:28.67

Men's 1000 free – Jake McBride – 9:50.09

Men's 200 free – Stathis Malamas – 1:41.67

Women's 100 back – Alexa Kutch – 56.59

Men's 100 back – Jason Arthur – 50.93

Women's 100 breast – Gabrielle Rudy – 1:04.06

Men's 100 breast – Zachary Valenzuela – 57.92

Men's 200 fly – Paris Raptis – 1:50.17

Women's 50 free – Ryann Styer – 24.51

Men's 50 free – John Scully – 21.25

Women's 3-meter – Becca Demaree – 268.88

Women's 100 free – Alicia Diaz – 53.16

Men's 100 free – Stathis Malamas – 45.98

Women's 200 back – Alexa Kutch – 2:03.67

Men's 200 back – Jason Arthur – 1:52.21

Women's 200 breast – Megan Sicinski – 2:21.36

Men's 200 breast – Zachary Valenzuela – 2:07.88

Women's 500 free – Maddie Riley – 5:08.87

Men's 500 free – Jake McBride – 4:44.75

Women's 100 fly – Lera Nasedkina – 59.35

Men's 100 fly – Paris Raptis – 48.67

SECOND PLACE
Women's 200 medley relay Alex Temple, Gabrielle Rudy, Hollie Hopf, Chelsea Gravereaux – 1:46.78 –

Men's 200 medley relay Kiran Richardson, Cruz Buitron, Joe Short, David Kneiss – 1:34.39 –

Women's 200 free – Natalie Gundling – 1:56.96

Women's 100 back – Alicia Diaz – 58.28

Women's 100 breast – Megan Sicinski – 1:05.83

Women's 200 fly – Jordan Washart – 2:12.49

Women's 50 free – Lera Nasedkina – 24.70

Men's 50 free – Kiran Richardson – 21.28

Women's 200 breast – Gabrielle Rudy – 2:22.89

THIRD PLACE
Women's 1000 free – Olivia Shaffer – 10:44.43

Men's 1000 free – JonPat Ransom – 10:03.58

Women's 200 free – Paige Powell – 1:57.42

Women's 100 back – Alex Temple – 1:00.01

Men's 100 back – Spencer Hill – 52.93

Women's 100 breast – Rebecca Churchill – 1:08.46

Men's 100 breast – Cruz Buitron – 59.46

Women's 200 fly – Lauren DiCamillo – 2:14.22

Men's 200 fly – John Klein – 1:56.18

Women's 3-meter – Katie Caputo – 239.93

Men's 1-meter – Anthony Musciano – 268.80

Women's 100 free – Natalie Gundling – 54.41

Men's 100 free – Kiran Richardson – 46.52

Women's 200 back – Alex Temple – 2:09.71

Men's 200 back – Spencer Hill – 1:56.41

Women's 200 breast – Corinne McCurley – 2:31.47

Men's 200 breast – Cruz Buitron – 2:13.07

Women's 500 free – Olivia Shaffer – 5:17.71

Women's 100 fly – Hollie Hopf – 59.57

Men's 100 fly – Joe Short – 51.61