Led by newcomer Jakub Jiracek (Nymburk, Czech Republic), who qualified for the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships, the Seattle University men’s swim team won seven of 11 events to defeat Whitworth University, 115-87, while the women’s team won four events but lost to the Pirates, 119-86, Saturday afternoon at the Whitworth Aquatics Center.
Jiracek became the fifth SU swimmer to qualify for the national meet by setting a new school record in the 400 individual medley, winning the event in 4:03.38. He also earned a “B” cut and set a new Whitworth Aquatics Center record in the 100 breaststroke, winning that event in 57.51 seconds, and was part of the 200 medley relay quartet that, along with Michael Wheeler (Fremont, Calif.), Chris Coley (Austin, Texas), and Nathan Freeman (Phoenix, Ariz.), won that event in 1:38.83.
Gordon Smith (Kennewick, Wash.) won the 50 freestyle in 22.70 seconds, while Coley took the 100 butterfly in 53.09 seconds and Bryson Chiu (Carmel, Ind.) won the 100 backstroke in 55.11 seconds. Those three, along with Bryant Bevers (Federal Way, Wash.), finished the afternoon by winning the 200 freestyle relay in 1:28.69.
On the women’s side, the quartet of Francesca Reale (Gig Harbor, Wash.), Carole Triem (Petersburg, Alaska), Elizabeth Hanohano (Honolulu, Hawaii), and Kelsey Henan (Billings, Mont.) won the 200 medley relay in 1:52.65. The 200 freestyle relay squad of Reale, Megan Lavin (Kalispell, Mont.), Kaci Dudley (Murrieta, Calif.), and Christina Hunsberger (Bellevue, Wash.) also picked up a victory with a time of 1:43.67.
Reale and Triem finished 1-2 in the 100 backstroke, with Reale winning in a time of 1:02.31 and Triem finishing behind her in 1:03.86. Triem also earned a victory in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:10.59.
The men’s swim team heads right back into the pool Sunday, Jan. 13, hosting UC Davis at the Connolly Center in a 14-event meet beginning at 12 noon. The women’s team will compete again in two weeks, on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Simon Fraser in Burnaby, B.C.