ASU fought on against USC, splitting Saturday duel meet

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)

Arizona State swim and dive battled to the end on Saturday against the University of Southern California, resulting in a Sun Devil men’s win, 182-101. Last time out, the Sun Devil men took down California and Stanford in a tri-meet, setting some of their fastest times of the season.

The Sun Devil women came off a tie against UCLA Friday afternoon in their second duel meet of the season. The Lady Devils came second to the Trojans, 169-131.

“I thought the way both teams handled themselves was very good,” Head Coach Herbie Behm said. “The way the women fought the whole way through yesterday and today was really good and big growth for them.”

The sunny day in Tempe opened up with the 200-yard medley relays. Sun Devil women’s A-relay snagged second place in 1 minute 37.01 seconds. The men’s team swept the heat with the C-relay taking first. Graduate Adam Chaney went 20.54 in his backstroke split, staying up with one of the fastest splits in the country.

The Sun Devil men put on a show in the 50-yard freestyle with three sub-19-second finishes. Junior Ilya Kharun came in first with an impressive 18.54 mark. The Sun Devils didn’t stop there, with graduate Remi Fabiani following behind at 18.99. The crowd erupted when sophomore Tolu Young smashed the wall at 18.98. ASU holds some of the fastest 50-yard freestyle times in the country for collegiate swimming.

The 400-meter freestyle relay was the last event of the afternoon and kept the pool energy alive. The Lady Devils lead off with the second-place finish from the squad of senior Gerda Szilagyi, sophomore Jordan Greber, freshman Shane Golland and sophomore Julia Ullmann.

The 100-yard freestyle was led by Greber for the Lady Devils in 49.05, right over her time from the UCLA dual meet. The ASU men swept first through fourth place in the event, with Kharun claiming first. Kharun is coming off the World Aquatics Championship, where he won bronze in the 100-yard butterfly.

The lengthy 1000-yard freestyle events were the longest races of the afternoon. Junior Alexa Reyna swam her fastest time in the 1000-yard freestyle against USC in 2023 and placed second this time around.

In the 200-yard butterfly, Ullman took home first for ASU in 1:57.03, just shy of her personal best. Ullman placed third in the event against California and Stanford.

The swift 100-yard backstroke is where junior Miriam Sheehan took home second in a 52.43. The crowd arose for the men’s event, where junior Filip Senc-Samardzic touched first for the Sun Devils.

Senior Ginger McMahon came in first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a strong lead during the race. McMahon touched the wall at 1:00.70 with sophomore Lucie Vasquez trailing behind in third place.

“I think probably the depth of our team is the thing I’m most proud of,” Behm said. “Like, our B-relays are always beating their B-relays. All of our people are scoring.”