UW Finishes Fourth at Championships
Tenth-straight year UW places top-four
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Led by three podium appearances during the final evening, the University of Wyoming Cowgirl swimming and diving team finished fourth overall as the Mountain West Championships concluded Saturday at the Texas A&M Natatorium.
UW earned 457 points over the four-day meet, in addition to it being the tenth-straight season UW finished within the top-four at the championships.
In the first event of the evening, Kelly Sheldon took fourth in the 200 back finals for the Cowgirls. She recorded a time of 1:57.28 in the final, after swimming a 1:58.01 in the prelims. Sheldon finished 22nd in the 200 back at the championships a year ago as a freshman.
Emily Stevens and Abby Sullivan each competed in the consolation final for UW. Sullivan (1:58.50) took 12th overall, while Stevens claimed 15th (2:00.52). Marcela Gramcko finished fourth in the 200 back bonus final for the Cowgirls with a time of 2:00.96.
“Kelly (Sheldon) had a great meet for us,” UW head coach Tom Johnson said. “From where we were at this time last year to three finals this weekend was outstanding. She’s worked hard and deserved to have a great weekend.”
Keely Bishop claimed third place on the platform event for the Cowgirls. Bishop scored a 248.70 in the final after she notched 256.10 during the prelims. Kari Campbell took sixth in the platform final (233.85). It was the third-consecutive year Wyoming had an individual place third in the event. Campbell finished third in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
“I’m so proud of the divers. We don’t even have a platform, but it just shows how hard they have worked to finish third and sixth for this team. It was tough diving field and all of our divers did a tremendous job over the weekend.” – UW Head Coach Tom Johnson.
Emily Ridout and Isobel Ryan continued their successful championship by taking part in the 100 free final. Ridout took third with a time of 49.17, while Ryan touched the pads in 50.02 to take eighth. Samantha Burke swam in the 100 free bonus final, and had a time of 51.71.
“Emily (Ridout) got out pretty well to begin with,” Johnson added. “She raced hard and has improved so much in that event. Isobel (Ryan) was great for us with another final event and it shows her hard work is starting to pay off.”
Up next for the final session of the championships was the 200 breast finals. Maria Harutjunjan took second place in the event with a time 2:12.18. As a freshman last season, Harutjunjan had a time of 2:13.63 in the event to also claim second place. Emma Dow swam in the consolation final and placed 13th overall (2:17.71).
“Maria (Harutjunjan) had her best time and swam really well. It was a tough weekend for her, but she handled it all great,” Johnson said. “Molly (Coonce) once again has shown improvement from not just a year ago but from this morning. She was also a finalist for the senior recognition award, and that means a lot to me and this university.”
Molly Coonce represented the Cowgirls in the 200 fly championship event. She claimed fifth place with a time of 2:00.87, while Shannon Chelsvig finished 14th overall with a final of 2:04.30. In the final event of the championships, the Wyoming 400 free relay quartet of Ryan, Danielle Badger, Emily Stucky and Ridout finished in fifth place with a time of 3:20.32.
“I’m proud of our seniors and how everyone raced all week,” Johnson said. “It was a good weekend for us and now it’s on to Zones for diving & hopefully NCAAs.”
The Cowgirls will next compete in the NCAA Zone “E” Championships March 7-9 and then the NCAA Women’s Championships, which are set to begin March 17.
UW Golf Closes Gap on Day Two
Wyoming climbed eight places with 18 holes left
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The University of Wyoming Cowboy golf team finished the second round of the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate on Saturday, at The Classic Club golf course in Palm Desert, Calif. The Cowboys jumped eight places to finish the day tied for fifth after shooting a 290 (+2). Wyoming had the second-best score of the afternoon, only trailing Texas Tech by one stroke.
“We played a lot better today,” Wyoming head coach Joe Jensen said. “We need to continue to do so in order for us to finish in the top five.”
Sophomore Drew McCullough shot a second-round low for the Cowboys by carding a 71 (-1) to bring his total to 145 (+1), as he sits tied for 13th. Junior Ryan Wallen recorded a 73 (+1) on Saturday to tie him for 23rd. Senior Kamrin Allen notched a 74 (+2), tying him for 38th place. Following Allen, sophomores Quintin Pope and Drew McCullough rounded out the Wyoming lineup with scores of 72 (E) and 80 (+8), respectively.
Sophomore Arron Lickteig and freshman John Murdock played as individuals. Lickteig showed consistency in both days, carding another 76 (+4) for day two. Murdock improved on his day one finish by also shooting a 76 (+4).
“This is a very competitive field,” Jensen added. “Our guys showed some grit and climbed their way back into contention. Tomorrow we need to come out ready to play.”
Kansas currently owns the team lead with its two-round score of 575 (+2). Trailing the Jayhawks by five shots is Texas Tech with 580 (+7). The individual leader is Sean Walsh of Gonzaga with a two-day total of 139 (-5).
The Wyoming Cowboy Desert Intercollegiate concludes tomorrow beginning at 8:00 a.m. MT.
Wyoming Individual Results
T13. Drew McCullough: 74 – 71 (+1)
T23. Ryan Wallen: 75 – 73 (+4)
T38. Kamrin Allen: 76 – 74 (+6)
T55. Arron Lickteig*: 76 – 76 (+8)
T72. Quintin Pope: 82 – 72 (+10)
T95: Glenn Workman: 78 – 80 (+14)
T101. John Murdock*: 83 -76 (+15)
*Playing as an individual
Wyoming Tennis Falls to Pioneers
DENVER, Colo. (Feb. 20, 2016) – The Wyoming tennis team (6-4 overall) dropped its match on Saturday afternoon 5-2 against the 63rd-ranked Denver Pioneers (9-2 overall).
In doubles action, Denver took the early 1-0 lead. The duo of Dorottya Jonas and Miranda Talbert opened up with a 6-1 victory over Charlotte Derbyshire and Evy Van Genechten. At the number one spot, Magdalena Stencel and Nastya Tokareva fell to Julia O’Loughlin and Maureen Slattery, 6-3, while the Pioneers earned the point with a Morgan Barnhill and Bianca Mok win over Tessa van Der Ploeg and Elisa Koonik, 6-3.
Tokareva got the Cowgirls on the board with her 6-4, 6-2 victory over Slattery. Denver would win the next three in a row to clinch the match. Mok defeated Jonas, 6-2, 6-3, followed by Derbyshire over Talbert, 7-5, 6-0. At the number five spot, Barnhill gave the Pioneers the win with a straight set win, 7-6, 6-1, against van Der Ploeg.
Wyoming will return to the court next Friday against the New Mexico State Aggies in Las Cruces. The Cowgirls will also take on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Saturday and the UTEP Miners on Sunday.
#63 Denver 5, Wyoming 2
Singles
1. Julia O’Loughlin (DEN) def. Magdalena Stencel (WY), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6)
2. Bianca Mok (DEN) def. Dorottya Jonas (WY), 6-2, 6-3
3. Nastya Tokareva (WY) def. Maureen Slattery (DEN), 6-4, 6-2
4. Elisa Koonik (WY) def. Evy Van Genechten (DEN), 7-6 (7), 6-1
5. Morgan Barnhill (DEN) def. Tessa van Der Ploeg (WY), 7-6 (3), 6-1
6. Charlotte Derbyshire (DEN) def. Miranda Talbert (WY), 7-5, 6-0
Doubles
1. Julia O’Loughlin/Maureen Slattery (DEN) def. Magdalena Stencel/Nastya Tokareva (WY) 6-3
2. Morgan Barnhill/Bianca Mok (DEN) def. Tessa van Der Ploeg/Elisa Koonik (WY) 6-3
3. Dorottya Jonas/Miranda Talbert (WY) def. Charlotte Derbyshire/Evy Van Genechten (DEN, 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,2,6,5,4,1)