FAYETTEVILLE-- The Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team launched its 2014-2015 season with a dominating win over Arkansas in Fayetteville Saturday. The 170-120 win marks the first dual-meet win of the season for the Aggies and builds upon their undefeated streak from last season.
The Aggies hit the wall first in all 16 events including second place finishes in eight and full 1-2-3 sweeps in three races.
Tallying multiple wins for the Aggies were seniors Sarah Henry and Sammie Bosma, and sophomore Sycerika McMahon. Henry took first place in the 1000 free (9:55.96) followed closely by junior Colleen Konetzke (10:13.42) for second. Also leading the sweep in the 200 IM, Henry finished in 2:00.61 with McMahon (2:02.83) and freshman Bethany Galat (2:03.39) behind. Leading a sweep of her own, Bosma touched first in the 100 fly in 55.33 just ahead of freshman Beryl Gastaldello (55.54) and senior Emily Neubert (56.32). Bosma also garnered wins in both the 50 free and 100 free hitting the wall in 22.95 and 50.75, respectively.
McMahon took the victory in the 100 breast in a time of 1:01.79 while also finishing first in the 200 breast (2:14.39) followed by sophomore Franko Jonker (2:15.78).
Senior Liliana Ibañez led the sweep of the 200 free grabbing first in 1:49.79 while sophomore Sarah Gibson (1:50.05) and freshman Kristin Malone (1:51.37) claimed second and third. In a 1-2 finish, the 500 free was won by Gibson in 4:55.54 with Konetzke close behind at 4:58.56. Neubert took down the 200 fly competition with a first place finish of 2:03.00.
In the 100 back, Gastaldello came in first in 54.71 marking her first win as an Aggie. Freshman Lisa Bratton also made her collegiate debut with a win in the 200 back (1:57.93).
In the diving well, Madison Hudkins finished at the top in both the 3-meter competition with a score of 317.70 and the 1-meter with a total of 305.18. Sophomore Destine'e O'Neal scored 278.70 in the 3-meter and 251.85 in the 1-meter while sophomore Courtney Hattie tallied 283.28 and 249.23 in the three and 1-meter springboard competitions, respectively.
The Aggies started off the meet with a commanding first and second place finish in the 200 medley relay. Hitting the wall first in 1:40.68 was the squad of senior Kelli Benjamin, McMahon, Gastaldello and Bosma. Following closely in 1:41.89 was Bratton, Jonker, Gibson, and junior Meredith Oliver. Closing out the meet with another win was the foursome of Gastaldello, Benjamin, Gibson and Galat with a 1:34.08 finish in the 200 freestyle relay.
The Aggies head to Denton next to face off with the Houston Cougars and the North Texas Mean Green on October 31 at 3 a.m. (CT).