Houston Comes Out Strong Against UNT

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving program got out to a strong start on the first day of dual meet action against North Texas. After 11 events Houston leads UNT, 174-67.

DAY 1 RESULTS

Houston got going early behind a convincing victory in the opening event of the day. Kathryn Power, Mykenzie Leehy, Rachel Hicks and Courtney Harris combined for a time of 1:32.54 in the 200 Freestyle relay, securing 11 points for the Cougar cause.

Freshman Laura Garcia Marin put Cougar fans on notice with a first-place finish in the 500 Freestyle, swimming the ninth fastest time in program history at 4:49.80. Samantha Medlin took second place at 4:55.22, followed by Elizabeth Richardson in third-place at 4:57.17.

Houston's second sweep of the day came in the 200 Individual Medley when Ioanna Sacha posted the squads first NCAA B-Cut of the weekend. Sacha finished in first-place at 1:59.79, followed by Kaley Hoffman in second-place (2:03.86) and Audrey McKinnon in third-place (2:03.96)

The Cougars swept the 50 Free behind a first-place finish from Leehy at 23.06. Power finished in second-place with a time of 23.42, following by Harris in third-place at 23.70.

UH ended the morning session on high-note with a top finish in the 400 Medley Relay. Sacha, McKinnon, Katie Higgins and Leehy combined for a time of 3:38.90.

Garcia Marin's hot streak continued as she opened the evening session with her second individual victory of the day. The freshman won the 400 IM, touching in at 4:17.85. The time marks the fifth-fastest time in program history. Houston freshmen Mai Ortega Bonilla and Sophie Anderson clocked times of 4:22.97, as Morgan Rosas finished with UH's third-best time at 4:23.72.

The 100 Fly was highlighted by the Cougars second NCAA B-Cut of the day. Higgins secured a first-place finish with a time of 53.68. Abby Jackson clocked the second-fastest time of the day in the event at 54.82, followed by Chrysten Pacheco (56.71) and Shayla Erickson (57.40).

Leehy continued to anchor the Cougars in the Freestyle, taking first-place in the 200 Free with an NCAA B-Cut at 1:45.39. Medlin finished not far behind Leehy with a time of 1:50.12, trailed by Richardson (1:50.20) and Stegner (1:50.44). Maddie Wallin earned two points for the Cougars finishing at 1:56.76.

McKinnon earned nine points for UH with a first-place finish in the 100 Breaststroke. She finished at 1:03.58, followed by Sophie Anderson (1:05.15), Hannah Farmer (1:05.34) and Hanna Esopenko (1:05.36).

Houston secured two of the top-five spots in the 100 Back behind a first-place finish from Sacha at 54.61. Power clocked the second fastest time of the day in the event at 54.85, followed by Hoffman at 55.36. Stegner scored two points for UH, finishing at 56.50.

On the boards, Houston swept the 3-meter as Katie Deininger finish in first-place with 322.95 points, followed by Hedda Grelz (296.17) in second-place and Emilia Waters (275.92) in third-place. Jolie Blodgett rounded out the field for Houston with 270.30 points.

In the 1-meter, Deininger took first-place again with 281.32 points. Blodgett finished with 272.17 points, followed by Grelz with 258.15 points.

Action will resume tomorrow morning inside the CRWC at 10 a.m.

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Players Mentioned

Sophie Anderson

Jolie Blodgett

Katie Deininger

Shayla Erickson

Hannah Farmer

Laura Garcia Marin

Hedda Grelz

Courtney Harris

Rachel Hicks

Katie Higgins

Kaley Hoffman

Abby Jackson

Mykenzie Leehy

Audrey McKinnon

Samantha Medlin

Mai Ortega Bonilla

Chrysten Pacheco

Kathryn Power

Elizabeth Richardson

Morgan Rosas

Ioanna Sacha

Maddie Wallin

Emilia Waters

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