University of Houston
North Texas
Houston Finishes Strong Weekend with Six More Wins
10/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
HOUSTON - The University of Houston Swimming & Diving Team had six individual event champions Saturday afternoon, including the diving team sweeping both events against North Texas at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium. The Cougars fell to the Mean Green, 164.5-135.5.
"We designed this weekend to be a challenge, with a high-level meet last night and another high-level meet today," said head coach Ryan Wochomurka. "I don't think we were as ready to compete this morning as we were last night. I am proud of how we battled back though; we made a few adjustments in the middle of the meet and we competed better toward the end."
Despite the loss, Houston produced six event victories, from Delia Weber (1,000-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle), Sharo Rodriguez (200-yard butterfly) Micaela Bouter (1-meter dive, 3-meter dive), and Eleanna Koutsouveli (200-yard backstroke).
"The four student-athletes who won events today continue to be leaders for us," Wochomurka added. "We look to them for leadership, and the exciting thing is that they're all underclassmen. They are learning what it means to be in that role, and they are leading the charge."
The divers swept the meet, going 1-2-3 in both the 1-meter and 3-meter. Leading the pack was Bouter, who finished first in both the 3-meter and 1-meter, scoring 337.05 and 308.85. Senior Danielle Shedd earned second in both events with a score of 335.40 in the 3-meter and 304.13 in the 1-meter. Taylor Olanski rounded out the podium in both the 3-meter and 1-meter with her scores of 316.65 and 281.78.
Houston's relay teams had four podium finishes in two events. In the 200-yard medley relay, the Cougars finished second and third. The team of Koutsouveli, Ashley Grijalva, Rodriguez and Doroteja Bednjanec placed second with a time of 1:46.96. They were followed by the team of Jenny Penneck, Cameron Balkom, Taylor Derevyanik, and Caitlin Horner to round out the podium with a time of 1:48.40.
In the 400-yard freestyle relay, the team of Horner, Moore, Bednjanec and Hannah Herbst finished second with a swim of 3:31.41. In third was the team of Julie Gibson, Weber, Maya Owens and Derevyanik in a time of 3:35.11.
Weber won the 1,000-yard freestyle for the second day in a row with a swim of 10:13.26. Freshman Herbst placed second in a time of 10:27.88. Weber's second win of the night came in the 500-yard freestyle, with a time of 5:02.24 as Herbst tied for second with a time of 5:09.48.
Koutsouveli finished second in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.33. Her third individual win of the weekend came in the 200-yard backstroke with a swim of 2:03.02, a collegiate personal best.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, sophomore Balkom placed third, swimming it in 1:06.63. The podium finish led the Cougars in the event.
Rodriguez captured first place in the 200-yard butterfly, swimming a time of 2:04.72. The individual victory was Rodriguez's second in as many days. She also placed second in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 57.57.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Horner finished second with a time of 24.22 and Bednjanec placed third by swimming a time of 24.34. Horner followed that up by placing third in the 100-yard freestyle, swimming the race in 52.83.
In the 200-yard breaststroke, sophomore Grijalva placed third, leading the Cougars with a time of 2:24.55.
In the last individual event of the day, Koutsouveli swam a team season best and personal colligate best in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:08.97, good for second. Rodriguez was right behind her with a swim of 2:10.76 for third place.
"For us, this was another learning opportunity," Wochomurka said. "We are a very young team, and we will get better and grow from this weekend."
POINTS EARNED
OVERALL
North Texas - 164.5
Houston - 135.5
200 Medley Relay
2. Houston A - 1:46.96
(Koutsouveli, Grijalva, Rodriguez, Bednjanec)
3.Houston B - 1:48.40
(Penneck, Balkom, Derevyanik, Horner)
1000 Free
1. Delia Weber - 10:13.26
2. Hannah Herbst - 10:27.88
5. Conor Glenn - 10:44.43
200 Free
3. Michaela Hamrick - 1:58.26
4. Emma Moore - 1:58.70
6. Maya Owens - 1:58.86
100 Back
2. Eleanna Koutsouveli - 58.33
4. Taylor Derevyanik - 59.33
6. Jenny Penneck - 59.87
100 Breast
3. Cameron Balkom - 1:06.63
5. Ashley Grijalva - 1:07.49
7. Marissa Lehman - 1:10.32
200 Fly
1. Sharo Rodriguez - 2:04.72
5. Hannah Herbst - 2:15.43
6. Leah Ortiz - 2:18.62
1M
1. Micaela Bouter - 308.85
2. Danielle Shedd - 304.13
3. Taylor Olanski - 281.78
50 Free
2. Caitlin Horner - 24.22
3. Doroteja Bednjanec - 24.34
5. Emma Moore - 24.49
200 Back
1. Eleanna Koutsouveli - 2:03.02*
5. Jenny Penneck - 2:11.23
6. Victoria Rayol - 2:11.77
200 Breast
3. Ashley Grijalva - 2:24.55
4. Cameron Balkom - 2:25.81
6. Marissa Lehman - 2:29.96
500 Free
1. Delia Weber - 5:02.00
T2. Hannah Herbst - 5:09.48
4. Conor Glenn - 5:12.22*
100 Fly
2. Sharo Rodriguez - 56.59
4. Maya Owens - 58.21
6. Taylor Derevyanik - 59.26
3M
1. Micaela Bouter - 337.05
2. Danielle Shedd - 335.40
3. Taylor Olanski - 316.65
200 IM
2. Eleanna Koutsouveli - 2:08.97*^
3. Sharo Rodriguez - 2:10.76
7. Ashley Grijalva - 2:16.85
400 Free Relay
2. Houston A - 3:31.41
(Horner, Moore, Bednjanec, Herbst)
3. Houston B - 3:35.11
(Gibson, Weber, Owens, Derevyanik)
UP NEXT
Houston will host the Phill Hansel Invitational Nov. 19-21 inside the CRWC Natatorium and the diving team with travel to the Texas Diving Invitational Nov. 19-21 at the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas.
COUGARS TO HOST AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Houston will host the American Athletic Conference Championships for the first time as the best swimmers and divers in the league visit the CRWC from Feb. 17-20, 2016. Following the conference meet, the Cougars will look to close the season at the NCAA Championships, to be held March 17-19, 2016 in Atlanta.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the swimming & diving team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonCougarSwimmingDiving) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarSwim), which provide regular updates on the team and live results during home meets.
--UHCougars.com--
Players Mentioned
