The Brock Badgers men's and women's swimming teams finished preparations for the upcoming Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championship by hosting the Badger Tri-Meet on Saturday, Feb. 3.
Joining the Brock Badgers were the Waterloo Warriors and Laurier Golden Hawks. All races during this meet were timed finals.
The Badgers placed first in all three categories, scoring 1872.5 points overall compared to Waterloo's 1733. On the men's side, Brock notched 813.5 to Waterloo's 790, and on the women's side, Brock earned 813.5 compared to Waterloo's 790.
Alex Walker was the shining star for the Badgers men, earning a gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke in a time of two minutes, 22 seconds and 69 milliseconds; an impressive three seconds and 35 milliseconds faster than the second-place finisher. The first-year Kinesiology major also earned a bronze in the 100m breaststroke (1:06.46).
Other first place finishers included Julien Legault (100m medley - 59.76), Evan Karlov (100m freestyle - 51.59) and Chris Ball (100m backstroke - 59.11).
Gideon Joubert earned two silver medals for his performances in the 100m butterfly (59.09) and 200m butterfly (2:14.71). Joining Joubert with second-place finishes were Tomas Galvez (800m freestyle - 8:49.03), Aidan Johnston (50m butterfly - 26.63) and Legault (50m backstroke - 26.94).
Taking home two third-place finishes was Owen Googe, who finished in 1:01.13 in the 100m medley and 2:13.14 in the 200m medley. Ball earned his second podium finish of the day with a bronze in the 200m freestyle (1:57.31). Hughie Edwards (200m backstroke - 2:09.32), Declan Ottenbreit (50m butterfly - 26.74) rounded out the top three performances for the Badgers.
On the women's side, Tatum O'Connor continues to put up strong performances. The third-year Kinesiology major earned first-place finishes in the 50m backstroke (30.01), 50m butterfly (28.26) and 100m medley (1:06.48).
The Badgers were not done making the podium on Saturday, earning five silver medals. Cora Holt finished the 200m backstroke in a time of 2:30.17, while Grace Malcolm hit the wall in 1:08.56 in the 100m butterfly. Noemie Ringuette (200m freestyle - 2:13.69), Chloe Smith (50m butterfly - 30.16) and Jayden Toews (200m breaststroke - 2:52.75) also placed second in their respective races. Holt also earned a bronze in the 100m backstroke (1:10.28).
Quinn Mersereau had two third-place finishes in both the 50m freestyle (27:55) and 100m freestyle (1:00.14). Isabella Seabrook accomplished the same feat, placing third in the 100m butterfly (1:08.91) and 200m butterfly (2:32.50).
Rounding out the bronze medal finishes were Mara Di Persio (200m backstroke - 2:35.88), Jami Fusion (800m freestyle - 9:36.78), Kendra Hussey (50m butterfly - 30:45), Paige Moore (200m breaststroke - 2:56.67) and Megan O'Connell (200m medley - 2:38.67).
Brock also earned medals in the relays, capturing three medals in the mixed category.
The team of Legault, Walker, O'Connor and Mersereau set a school record of 1:50.82 in the 4x50m medley to place first. Karlov, Liam McKenna, O'Connor and Mersereau earned silver (1:41.95) in the 50m freestyle relay while Blake Bishop, Ball, Erika Savage and Alivia Chiumera placed third (1:45.77) in the same race.
In the women's 50m medley relay, O'Connor, Fuson, Smith and Mersereau placed second with a time of 2:03.31.
Legault, Walker, Karlov and Bishop placed second in the 50m men's medley relay with a time of 1:46.86.
Up next, the Badgers get ready to host the OUA Swimming Championships from Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre. Head to https://brocku.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx to get your tickets. Space is limited so get your tickets early.
