The Saint Louis Swimming and Diving team competed in a dual meet against Western Illinois University, with the men winning 131-103, and the women dominating 154-87. It was the 50th consecutive dual-meet win for the women.
Junior sprinter Brad Byars stood out, winning two races: the 50- and 100-meter freestyle.
Kevin Parker won the 200 fly. His time of 1:56.86 was good enough for the fourth-best in SLU history.
Elena Ramirez added three wins in the 200 IM, the 200 fly and the 200 breast. Her 200 fly time of 2:02.21 is the second-best in the history of SLU swimming.
The women’s diving team controlled the action as well, picking up wins in the top three spots on both the one- and three-meter boards. Freshman Anna Larson set a new Saint Louis University record by recording a score of 292.70.
The success of the swimming and diving team has not gone unnoticed by the Atlantic 10. In a recent release, members of the team swept the competition as Byars, Ramirez, Sal Cruz and Larson were recognized.
Byars and Ramirez won swimmers of the week, and Cruz and Larson took home new comers of the week awards.
This season a different feel has taken hold of the team, as multiple performers hint at a kind of family growing the water. “This year more then any other, the win team has turned into a family,” said Byars. “The upperclassmen have seen to that. Our captains Steve Sash and Chad Niemeier are great leaders.”
“Everyone is so supportive, making sure we are cheering for every race,” said freshman diver Dave Umphres. “Practice is both laid back and strenuous. We do a lot of work, but we enjoy it.”
“Every time I practice, I see it as if I have to be perfect, because races are won or lost by tenths of a second,” said Byars. “Everyone on the team understands that, so it helps me focus and get pumped up for practices.
“That’s why I’m having such huge success this year. I had good years both freshman and sophomore year, but this year I took off, and that’s because we have all been feeding off each other,” Byars said.
The team will return to action this weekend in Indianapolis as part of a four-school competition. Butler, Indiana-University Purdue University-Indianapolis and South Dakota State will also participate.
