Men's swimming & diving opens season with win over TCU

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Defeat TCU, 161.5-138.5, In Home Opener

DALLAS (SMU) – SMU defeated TCU, 161.5-138.5, on Friday at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium.

The event was highlighted by five Mustangs picking up eight total individual wins, and the team closing the evening with a relay victory in what was an incredible team effort as the program was down four men at the event.

The day opened with diving action, and the Mustangs took the top three spots on both boards, as well as the top four on 3 meter.

Behind Peter Smithson's NCAA Zone qualifying 355.80 and win on 3 meter, Dominic Hoefer (303.00), Parker Hardigree (301.05) and newcomer Tyler Coffey (269.10) finished in order.

On 1 meter, Smithson's 342.83 was good for the victory and the Zone cut, and it was Hardigree who took runner-up honors at 298.95 and Hoefer who was third at 270.60.

Colin Feehery picked up two wins and two NCAA B cuts, to bring his NCAA total to three after only two events this season. The sophomore won the 200-yard breaststroke in 1:57.57, and was joined by Caleb Rhodenbaugh in the top three (3rd, 1:58.92), and also the 200-yard individual medley in 1:46.71. Connor Dalbo was second in the 200 IM, finishing in 1:50.55.

Feehery (54.48) and Rhodenbaugh (54.76) also paced the Mustangs in the 100 breast, finishing second and third, respectively.

Jack Easton swept backstroke events touching in 49.02 in the 100 and 1:46.96 in the 200. He was joined by Tyler Barfield who finished third in both distances.

The win in the 1,000-yard freestyle for Petar Bozhilov was a career-best performance for the junior and places him ninth on the Mustangs' all-time top performer list at 9:16.22. Jack Callan placed third in the race.

Bozhilov was also the runner-up in the 500 distance at 4:33.57.

Cole Fleming picked up the final individual win for SMU, covering the 200 yards in the butterfly in a time of 1:49.78. Fleming was second in the 100, turning in a 49.51.

Daniel Forndal, Cole Parnell, Lance Butler and Wyatt Cronk closed the evening with a 3:01.40 for the 400-yard freestyle relay win.

[Water Pony]

I like the progress the Men's Team is making, especially early in the season. We appear deeper, well coached and able to develop swimmers, after they arrive on the hilltop.