The Seattle University women’s swim team started the 2014-15 season with solid performances, even though the Redhawks lost to both Oregon State (182.5-79.5) and Liberty University (167-90) in a double dual meet held Friday evening at the Osborn Aquatic Center.
Sophomore Blaise Wittenauer-Lee (Portland, Ore.) picked up right where she left off from her first collegiate season, first winning the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.16 in a close race in which the top five finishers were separated by just 1.3 seconds. She finished second in the 200 breaststroke in 2:21.04 before finishing first in the 400 individual medley with a mark of 4:30.28.
Bethany Gehrke (Lynnwood, Wash.) kicked off her senior season with a fourth place finish in the 1000 freestyle in 10:30.82, and then she tied for fourth place in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:09.85. After a sixth place finish in the 200 butterfly in 2:13.52, Jane Liggett (Portland, Ore.) earned a fourth place finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 58.87 seconds.
In her first collegiate competition, freshman Madi Lydig (Spokane, Wash.) made an immediate impact, finishing fourth in the 200 backstroke in 2:07.28, moving into fourth place on Seattle U’s all-time top times list in the event. In the 100 backstroke, Carlee Bock (Bellingham, Wash.) finished in fifth place with a time of 59.89 seconds.
Leading off the meet, the quartet of Kristin Hoffman (Mercer Island, Wash.), Melissa Randolf (Everett, Wash.), Alexis Martinez (Granite Bay, Calif.), and Bock finished in fifth place in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:49.59. Hoffman would go on to finish seventh in the 200 freestyle in 1:56.10 and sixth in the 100 freestyle in 54.13 seconds, while Randolf was Seattle U’s top finisher in the 50 freestyle in 25.25 seconds.
“The scores do not reflect how well many of the swimmers competed tonight, especially coming off a hard week of training,” Seattle U head coach Craig Nisgor said. “There are some things we need to work on, such as touching the wall at the end in a more efficient way, but overall I am pleased with tonight’s meet, as it gives us a good base to work from.”
The Seattle University men’s and women’s swim teams will welcome its former swimmers back for the annual alumni meet next Saturday, Oct. 18, starting at 11 a.m. at the Connolly Center. The Redhawks will then host Grand Canyon as well as the Arizona State men on back-to-back days Friday, Oct. 24, at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m.