EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Women's Swimming and Diving placed first in 13 of 16 events on Saturday afternoon in route to a dominant victory over crosstown rival University of Evansville, 195-94. Saturday's win gives the Screaming Eagles a season head-to-head sweep over the Purple Aces, winning both meetings.
The Eagles started off the swimming portion of the event hot with first-place finishes in both relay events. First, freshman
Elizabeth Ketcham and the sophomore trio of
Hayden Shurtz,
Naomi Weaver, and
Caiya Cooper combined to dominate the 200 medley (1:48.77). USI swept the relays on the backs of sophomore
Reagan Holmes, freshman
Alivia Scott, Shurtz, and Cooper who won the 200 free relay (1:39.40) at the latter end of the meet.
The USI dominance continued into the solo races as the Eagles swept the freestyle, individual medley, backstroke, and breaststroke events. Holmes enjoyed a fantastic afternoon as she won every solo event she participated in posting a personal-best in the 200 freestyle (1:55.55). She also contributed a strong sprint freestyle day nearly breaking school records, winning the 50 freestyle (24.53) and 100 freestyle (52.73) heats.
As a team, the Eagles saw many swimmers earn personal best times, including podium-topping performances from Scott in the 200 backstroke (2:13.96) and freshman
Emma Gabhart in the 200 individual medley (2:10.22).
Shurtz's strong form from the Chicago meets carried into her Saturday performance. The sophomore was not only a member of the two first-place relay teams, but also triumphed in both the 100 breaststroke (1:05.22) and 200 breaststroke (2:24.54).
On the diving side, freshman
Gabbie Meier set a personal best in the three-meter with a strong score (230.48 pts). Freshman
Anna Bunnell topped the USI diving side on both the three-meter (235.13) and the one-meter (225.38), earning second place in both.
UP NEXT
USI will be back in action on Saturday, January 25, as the team celebrates senior day against Eastern Illinois University. This will be the third match-up between these two programs with the record sitting at one win a piece.
