Tigers win every event in SCIAC victory over Caltech

PASADENA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2010) – The Occidental College women’s swimming and diving teams combined to sweep all 13 events, going 1-2 in four events, at the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference dual-meet with Caltech today on the road. The Black and Orange defeated the Beavers 145-85.

Oxy opened up the meet with a 12 second victory in the 200 medley relay as Sara Damore, Danielle Garcia, Audrey Akcasu and Sara Mendoza combined to swim the event in 2:03.54.

Garcia (2:26.62) and Damore (2:37.31) went on to finish 1-2 in the 200 individual medley while Garcia won the 100 breaststroke (1:16.66) and Damore took top honors in the 100 backstroke (1:12.43).

Mili Kale took 12 seconds off her personal best in the 1000 freestyle, placing first in a time of 11:42.55 before winning the 500 free in 5:46.56. Akcasu was third in the 500 free, completing the race in 6:15.79.

Freshman Lauren Howarth won two events. She finished more than 18 seconds ahead of second place as she swam the 200 free in 2:11.41. Howarth was then the only swimmer to finish the 100 free under a minute, touching the wall in 59.43, followed by teammate Akcasu (1:01.88).

The 50 free was won by Alena Morris (26.97) before she went on to win the 200 butterfly in 2:24.01, ahead of Mendoza (2:29.53), who also placed third (28.10) in the 50 free.

The diving duo of Sarah Sharpe and Marisa Pulcrano continue to impress as they earned first and second place finishes on both the one and three meter boards. Sharpe posted a personal best 234.85 on the three meter board and was the only diver to earn more than 200 points in the one meter event, finishing with a 243.85.

In the final event of the afternoon Sharpe then stepped up on the blocks to lead off the 200 free relay, joining forces with Kale, Morris and Howarth to finish in 1:54.57.

Occidental will return to the cozy confines of Taylor Pool for the final time of 2010 on Saturday, Feb. 6 when they host Pomona-Pitzer at 11:00 a.m. Diving will take place at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. Prior to the swimming portion of the meet, Oxy will recognize the senior student-athletes.

Article by: Tracy Maple