SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Texas A&M men's swimming and diving team logged a head-to-head team win over Michigan State and grabbed a solid first-day lead over No. 17 Notre Dame on Friday at the Rolfs Aquatic Center on the Notre Dame campus.
The host Irish, who were coming off an upset win over No. 7 Louisville last week, got out to a fast start with wins in two of the first three races, but the Aggies responded by winning the day's final seven races. The Aggies defeated the Spartans, 98-64, and grabbed a 101.5-64.5 day one advantage over the host Irish. The Aggies and Irish will finish the 18-event two-day dual meet on Saturday with the first race scheduled for 10 a.m. CT.
"We had a bunch of tight races that we were able to get our hands to the wall first," Aggie head coach Jay Holmes said. "I loved the way the guys attacked the day and the way they got up and raced. I'm pleased with where we're at in our training, but I also know that Notre Dame will not go down quietly. It will be a dogfight on Saturday and I think our guys are excited for the challenge."
Leading the way was senior All-American Mauro Castillo, who tallied a pair of victories and swam a leg on the Aggies' winning 400 medley relay. Castillo posted the Aggies' first race win of the night in the 200 IM in a time of 1:48.99 and then took the 100 breaststroke two races later in a time of 54.96.
Senior Brock Bonetti, junior Angel Martinez and sophomore Adam Koster each grabbed individual wins and contributed to the 400 medley relay win. Bonetti won the 200 backstroke in 1:44.74, Martinez won the 200 butterfly in 1:47.90 and Koster took the 100 free in 44.22.
The Aggies' dive crew was strong with freshman Kurtis Mathews holding off veteran teammate Skylar Lake for the win the one-meter dive with a score of 362.10.
Texas A&M closed out the day with the foursome of Bonetti, Castillo, Martinez and Koster winning the 400 medley relay in a time of 3:13.80.
The host Irish, who were coming off an upset win over No. 7 Louisville last week, got out to a fast start with wins in two of the first three races, but the Aggies responded by winning the day's final seven races. The Aggies defeated the Spartans, 98-64, and grabbed a 101.5-64.5 day one advantage over the host Irish. The Aggies and Irish will finish the 18-event two-day dual meet on Saturday with the first race scheduled for 10 a.m. CT.
"We had a bunch of tight races that we were able to get our hands to the wall first," Aggie head coach Jay Holmes said. "I loved the way the guys attacked the day and the way they got up and raced. I'm pleased with where we're at in our training, but I also know that Notre Dame will not go down quietly. It will be a dogfight on Saturday and I think our guys are excited for the challenge."
Leading the way was senior All-American Mauro Castillo, who tallied a pair of victories and swam a leg on the Aggies' winning 400 medley relay. Castillo posted the Aggies' first race win of the night in the 200 IM in a time of 1:48.99 and then took the 100 breaststroke two races later in a time of 54.96.
Senior Brock Bonetti, junior Angel Martinez and sophomore Adam Koster each grabbed individual wins and contributed to the 400 medley relay win. Bonetti won the 200 backstroke in 1:44.74, Martinez won the 200 butterfly in 1:47.90 and Koster took the 100 free in 44.22.
The Aggies' dive crew was strong with freshman Kurtis Mathews holding off veteran teammate Skylar Lake for the win the one-meter dive with a score of 362.10.
Texas A&M closed out the day with the foursome of Bonetti, Castillo, Martinez and Koster winning the 400 medley relay in a time of 3:13.80.