Loyola dominates first half of two-day swimming tri-meet

The Loyola University New Orleans swim team welcomed both Southwestern University and Birmingham Southern College to The Den on Friday evening to kick off day one of two-day tri-meet.

The Wolf Pack did not disappoint in its first appearance at home this season as both nationally ranked squads combined to win 11 of the 18 events on day one.

Loyola set the tone early on Friday with both groups from the No. 6 women’s team dominating the opening 400 medley relay. The team of Kamy Alexander, Madelyn Ogea (FR/Baton Rouge, La.), Carolyn Ives (SR/Carrollton, Ga.), and Elizabeth Skinner (FR/Lafayette, La.) cruised to a convincing win in 4:06.34, which is currently the fourth-fastest medley time in the NAIA.

The women’s team racked up another impressive victory in the 1000 free as Andrea Van Den Berg (FR/Weston, Fla. ) took the title by five seconds over Savannah Barber of BSC. Paige Carter (SO/Tampa, Fla.) took the 200 free crown in 1:58.82 and 400 IM title in 4:44.63 while Nina Mantich (SO/Whiting, Ind.) (1:01.98) and Alexander (1:01.89) went one and two in a highly contested 100 back event. Madeline Raue (FR/Moorestown, N.J.) barely missed a personal best (2:21.28) in her victory in the 200 fly and Ives’ winning time of 24:87 in the 50 free was a season-best and currently the seventh-fastest time in the NAIA.  The women’s squad closed out the opening day by taking the 200 free relay title in 1:42.01 to give the team eight wins overall.

The Wolf Pack men also logged some eye-popping performances on Friday, highlighted by its victory in the 400 medley relay to start the event. The group of Salvador James III(SO/Mandeville, La.), Jack Johnson, Tim Buisson (SR/Hattiesburg, Miss.) and Warren Massimini (SO/Metairie, La.) banded together to claim the event in 3:31.6, giving the talented quartet the fastest medley time in the NAIA so far this season.

Massimini also earned an individual title in the 50 free after touching the wall in 21.66 before earning another relay victory with the team of Samuel Vasquez (FR/Huntsville, Ala.), Jackson, and Jack Laughlin in the 200 free relay (1:27.66).

Both swim teams will return to The Den tomorrow, Oct. 28, to close out the tri-meet starting at 11:00 a.m.