The Billikens will hope that the Butler Duals, which took place on Sunday, Oct. 2, will be a strong springboard for the rest of their season, as the SLU men’s swim and dive team went 3-1 and the SLU women’s swim and dive team went 3-2. Just prior to the Butler Duals, on Friday, Sept. 30, the Billikens competed in their first dual meet of the season, against crosstown rivals Wash. U.

Against Wash. U., the men won a tight competition, 116 points to 107 points. SLU posted a number of race winners in the meet. The 1000-yard freestyle went to sophomore Isaiah Williams, who recorded a time of 9:52.24. Junior Ryan McCoy won the 200-yard freestyle, with a time of 1:43.47. Meanwhile, senior Austin Nguyenphu won the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:55.76. McCoy stuck again with a 47.14 time in the 100-yard freestyle. The 500-yard freestyle was then won by junior Jeremy Goodison in 4:47.48. Finally, sophomore Brian North, senior Nick Jessee, freshman Collin O’Brien and junior Ryan McCoy won the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:26.32.

The women had some race winners against Wash. U. despite losing their meet, 130 points to 109 points. Junior Riley Kirby, freshman Emily Kishish, senior Olivia Garrett and freshman Mary First finished in first place in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:49.67. Junior Mina Glenesk won the 1000-yard freestyle in 10:38.02, and Kirby struck again in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.73. Glenesk won the 500-yard freestyle in 5:10.31. Finally, Kishish won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:08.93.

In the Butler Duals, the men’s team went 3-1, defeating Valparaiso, Western Illinois and Xavier, but losing to Wright State. The women defeated Butler, Valparaiso and Western Illinois, but fell to Wright State and Xavier, for a 3-2 record.

The Billiken men had several winners. The 200-yard IM went to Nguyenphu, who swam the race in 1:54.93. Williams won the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:54.56. Nguyenphu then won again, this time in the 200-yard breaststroke, swimming the race in 2:08.18. Meanwhile, the women had a couple race winners as well. Freshman Savannah Nichols won the 200-yard butterfly in 2:10.70, and Elaine Mahon won the 100-yard freestyle in 52.14.

Next up for the Billikens will be a trip to Columbia, Mo., for the Show-Me Showdown on Oct. 7.