LITTLE ROCK, AR.- Saturdays are for the Trojans. The Little Rock swimming and diving team demolished Henderson State and St. Louis, claimed victory in 9 events, and posted an NCAA Zone Cut on the 1-meter board in a successful home outing.
"What a day for the Trojans. From the top to the bottom the Trojans put their stamp on this Saturday. I'm so proud of them and all their hard work this week. This was probably the best team environment we've ever had at a duel meet and I'm excited to keep the momentum rolling as we get into November." said Head Coach Nathan Towsend on today's performances.
During the meet, Little Rock's women's team excelled, particularly in the 800 Yard Freestyle Relay. Their A team took first place with a remarkable time of 7:28.27, with Senior Jaelle Carlson putting in the fastest leg to secure the win. The B team also put up a commendable fight, finishing second in the same event with a time of 7:38.57.
In individual events, Izzy Thibodeau shone in the 1000 Yard Freestyle, securing a win by over three seconds with a time of 10:48.74, just shy of her seed time. Little Rock's women also displayed depth in the 100 Yard Backstroke, where Beatriz Comini Romero finished second, clocking in at 57.49, closely following Saint Louis.
Lauren Pieniazkiewicz was on a winning streak, securing victories in both the 100 breaststroke and the 100 butterfly. She swam the breaststroke in an impressive 1:04.61, while her time of 56.30 in the butterfly placed her among the top four in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. In the 100 butterfly, she dominated the competition, showcasing her strength and skill. Brooke Cummings also contributed to the team's success, finishing fourth in the event with a time of 58.04.
Adara Stoddard clinched victory in the 200 Yard Breaststroke, finishing with a time of 2:19.29. Her strong performance set the tone for the team's success, while Gabriella O'Neil also contributed significantly, securing second place with a time of 2:21.00.
The 500 Yard Freestyle was another highlight for Little Rock, Carol Heinz supported the team's efforts by finishing in a solid second place at 5:06.27, showcasing their depth in distance swimming.
Carlson had a fantastic meet, clocking in under 50 seconds in the 100 freestyle—only the second time this feat has occurred in Trojan history. This impressive performance not only secured her the top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference so far, but also set the stage for her continued success. Riding this momentum, she went on to win the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.80, rounding out her individual races in spectacular fashion.
The Trojan diving team had an outstanding performance alongside the swim program, highlighted by impressive achievements from both senior and freshman divers. Senior Kyra Apodaca made a significant mark by claiming her first NCAA Zone Cut of the season in the 1-meter dive, scoring 289.20 and winning her division. Her impressive performance not only showcased her skill but also set a high standard for the rest of the team.
Freshman Delaney Nickels also made headlines by securing her first win in her collegiate career on the 3-meter dive, finishing with a score of 258.08. This victory is an exciting milestone for Nickels, demonstrating her potential and contribution to the team's overall success.
"I am very happy with how we preformed on the boards today. Delaney getting her first Collegiate win is a big step in her Trojan Career. Kyra with her Zone cut on 1 Meter is great, but having a Lifetime best performance is the big achievement! All 3 ladies improved from our last meet and are showing the growth we want from them. Its going to be a great next couple weeks of training before we take on the Razorbacks." said Coach Chris Pape on the Diving results from today.
Next up, the girls will return to their home turf at the Donaghey Aquatic Center to face off against in-state rivals, the Arkansas Razorbacks, on November 8th. This highly anticipated meet promises to be an exciting showdown. Following this, the team will travel to Indianapolis for the House of Champions Mid-season Meet.
Final Scores
Little Rock 201 - Henderson State 74
Little Rock 185 - St. Louis 95
St. Louis 195 - Henderson State 77
For the latest information on Little Rock Swimming and Diving, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockSwim on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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