GREEN RIVER — The University of Wyoming swimming and diving teams split their dual against Utah on Friday at the Green River High School Aquatic Center, with the Cowgirls winning decisively while the Cowboys fell short despite taking eight events.
The Cowgirls cruised to a 179-83 victory over the Utes, taking first place in all but one event on the women’s side. The Cowboys won eight of the 14 men’s events, but Utah’s depth proved to be the difference as the Utes claimed a 141-121 victory.
Wyoming’s women set the tone early, winning the opening 400-yard medley relay in 3 minutes, 42.39 seconds. The Cowboys followed with a victory in the men’s medley relay, finishing in 3:12.83 to give Wyoming wins in both opening relay events.
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The Cowgirls continued to control the competition throughout the meet, with several swimmers collecting multiple event victories. Tara Joyce won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.16 and the 100-yard freestyle in 50.18 seconds. Raiden Harris also picked up two individual wins, taking the 50-yard freestyle in 23.06 seconds and the 200-yard backstroke in 2:01.91.
Macey Hansen added victories in both distance freestyle events, winning the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:09.52 and the 500-yard freestyle in 4:56.91. Taylor Craft won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:01.40, while Sophie Nutter took the 200-yard butterfly in 2:04.63.
Other individual winners for the Cowgirls included Marley Monsen in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:18.71), Lorelai Frauenfelder in the 100-yard butterfly (55.62) and Taylor Cole in the 400-yard individual medley (4:29.69).
Wyoming also finished the women’s competition with a victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Harris, Frauenfelder, Ella Lesnever and Joyce posted a time of 1:30.68.
On the men’s side, Wyoming collected eight event victories but was unable to overcome Utah in the team standings. Jackson Kogler led the Cowboys with three individual wins, taking the 100-yard backstroke in 48.47 seconds and the 200-yard backstroke in 1:47.86, in addition to helping Wyoming win the opening medley relay.
Antonie Pieterse also turned in a strong performance, winning the 100-yard freestyle in 44.33 seconds and the 100-yard butterfly in 47.32. Bryan Lombardi claimed the 50-yard freestyle in 20.10 seconds, while Marcel Jureko won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:00.56.
Wyoming closed the meet with another relay victory as Pieterse, Lombardi, Leo Kurucz and Luke O’Connor combined to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:19.38.
Despite the split results, the dual marked another opportunity for Wyoming to bring its swimming program to Green River for the third consecutive year. The Cowgirls improved on last year’s 172-128 victory over Utah, while the Cowboys were unable to reverse their result from last season’s 196-104 loss.
The meet followed Wyoming’s Oct. 10 sweep of Air Force in Laramie, where the Cowboys won 178-22, and the Cowgirls prevailed 163-137.
