The Basics
Score: Saginaw Valley 174, Alma 89 (Women's); Saginaw Valley 181, Alma 52 (Men's)
Records: SVSU (1-0), Alma (0-1)
Location: Gerstacker Regional Aquatics Center - University Center, Mich.
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals Swimming and Diving team began their 2016-17 season with a dual meet against Alma College on Friday (Oct. 14). The Cardinals received strong performances from both teams en route to their first win of the season.
The Cardinals competed with Alma College in 32 events for this first meet. Saginaw Valley began the meet with a win in the Women's 200yd Medley Relay. The team consisting of Amanda Thielen, Samantha Tarbuck, Alexa Bloom and Mackenzie Perrin finished first with a time of 1:53.86 seconds. The Men's team would compete in their first event of the season and won the 200yd Medley Relay. The Cardinals finished with a time of 1:36.36 seconds.
Individual events followed the relays and Saginaw Valley continued to place well in these events. SVSU's Alexandra Davis took first in the Women's 1000yd Freestyle while teammate Jayden Hutchinson finished atop the Men's 1000yd Freestyle event. Thielen would finish first in the 200yd free while teammate Melissa Soenksen recorded a personal best (1:59.87) in the event. She also recorded a personal best in the 50yd Free with a time of 23.87 seconds.
The Cardinals showed well in their first diving events of the season, as Kevin Aziz earned the most points in the one meter dive (181.65) and three meter dive (177.65 points). Wilhemina Francisco finished first for SVSU in the one meter (223.35) and three meter (222.05) diving events.
Several top performances and personal bests capped a strong start for the Cardinals 2016-17 season as the Women beat Alma 174-89. The Men beat the Scots by a 181-52 score.
From Head Coach Bruce Zimmerman:
"Our competition against Alma College tonight was a good season opener for the team. We moved some people around in our line up a little bit so we could get some times on swimmers in events they do not normally swim. It was a good opportunity to see the improved depth we have on the team this year. Mike Matter, our Head Diving Coach was pleased with the performance of the divers in their first competition of the season as well. It's always nice to start a new season off with a win. Now we just need to keep working hard and improving from week to week. Our meet on October 15th against Findlay will be a good test of where the team is against a very good GLIAC team at this early stage of the season."
Up next...
The Cardinals Swimming & Diving team returns to the pool tomorrow afternoon (Oct. 15) with another dual meet scheduled against Findlay. The events will begin from Gerstacker Aquatics Center starting at 1:00 pm.
