CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos men's and women's swim teams capped off their regular season at home as they took down the Manitoba Bisons and Lethbridge Pronghorns in front of a packed crowd Friday night when they hosted the annual Colleges Cup – Mountain.
The reigning Canada West Champion men's squad defeated Lethbridge and Manitoba 112-58-37, while the No. 3 nationally-ranked Dinos women topped the point scores over Lethbridge and Manitoba (124-46-33) before hosting other Dinos varsity teams for some fun relays.
Each picking up two wins apiece, U SPORTS swimmer of the week
Alexanne Lepage and second-year freestyle specialist
Emily De Jager led the charge as the Dinos women managed to win nine individual events Friday night.
Lepage picked up wins in the women's 50 (31.63) and 200 breaststroke (2:27.31), while De Jager showed strength in the middle distance events, touching the wall first in the 200 (2:03.97) and 400 freestyle (4:20.99).
The women's team boasted five additional event-winners including 2022 U SPORTS bronze medallist
Hannah Bennett (200 IM, 2:17.94), rookie Haley French (200 butterfly, 2:18.18),
Nadine Daoud (200 backstroke, 2:19.27),
Julianne Moore (50 freestyle, 26.23) and
Kassua Dreyer of Ross River, Yukon, who dropped under the 29-second barrier in the 50 butterfly for the first time, setting a lifetime best of 28.69.
The men's team also had a pair of double-victors in
Nathan Versluys and flyer
Thomas McDonald.
Versluys hit the wall first in both the 200 (1:52.45) and 400 freestyle (3:55.07) events and has notably gone undefeated this season in the 400, notching his sixth win since September. 2023 CW multi-medallist McDonald added his wins in the 50 (24.77) and 200 butterfly (2:05.37) for the Scarlet & Gold.
Four other Dinos men hopped on the winner's train including third-year pair
Patrick McCloy (200 IM, 2:05.32) and
Aiden Luykenaar (200 breaststroke, 2:19.93), as well as
Gibson Black (100 freestyle, 50.85) and senior
Mark McKenzie (200 backstroke, 2:03.22).
To the delight of the student audience, eight Dinos varsity teams took to the blocks at the end of the night to compete head-to-head in a mixed 200 freestyle relay. The football team stunned the field to claim first place, followed by track & field and men's basketball rounding out the top three.
In addition to the event winners, Dinos swimming would like to extend their appreciation to all varsity teams who competed, including men's and women's hockey as well as women's basketball, women's rugby and field hockey.
With the 2024 U SPORTS Swimming Championships quickly approaching, the Dinos will be back in the water making final preparations before travelling east to Montreal, Que. for the national championship meet Mar. 7-9.
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