ASU swim and dive draws massive crowd in strong season opener

(Photo: WCSN/ Rilee Vargas)

TEMPE – As the sun slowly set over Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, students filled the stands with bright gold attire and loud ASU chants. Those who couldn’t make it inside watched in awe from the stadium parking garage nearby.

For what occasion? Arizona State swim and dive’s season opener against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

Thanks to Information Systems Professor Matt McCarthy, the collegiate swim and dive record-setting crowd of 2,867 was electric throughout the night, cheering the Sun Devils on. McCarthy has a large social media following and urges students to venture out to different sporting events across the school.

“I’ve been doing it for 45 semesters in a row,” McCarthy said. “This is great, I’m very pleased.”

Arizona State stood tall on home ground with a sweep from both teams to start the season off strong. The Sun Devil men put down 236 points over UNLV’s 60, while the women put up 242 points against the Rebels’ 57. 

“To see close to 3,000 people here and excited, I can’t even put into words what that means to me,” ASU head coach Herbie Behm said. “Great news for our swim program.”

The meet commenced with the women’s 200-yard medley relay and a Sun Devil sweep of the first four places. The winning quartet of junior Miriam Sheehan, senior Ginger McMahon, sophomore Julia Ullman and freshman Shane Golland touched at 1 minute 37.40 seconds, the third fastest time in ASU history. 

Sun Devil men took notes from the women’s side and secured first through third place for the 200-yard medley relay. Cutting through the water, the winning squad of graduate Adam Chaney, sophomore Tolu Young, freshman Jonathan Itzhaki and junior Ilya Kharun brought it home in a 1:21.88. 

Sophomore Jordan Greber placed first in the women’s 200-yard freestyle right in front of her teammate, junior Grace Lindberg. The Sun Devils led both teams by over thirty points after the 200-yard freestyle events. 

Freshman Alexia Sotomayor made her individual debut in the 100-yard backstroke. She made it to the wall in 53.24 behind Sheehan.

“I went all my best times and the energy up in the stands was just amazing,” Sotomayor said. “My professor got everyone here, so that was awesome.”

Chaney also joined Sotomayor in his Sun Devil debut in the men’s 100-yard backstroke. Chaney won his heat and set the fourth fastest time swam by a Sun Devil in the event. 

The Lady Devils swept the 100-yard breaststroke event with McMahon placing first. Senior Zoe Summar and McMahon stayed neck and neck throughout the entire race. 

In the women’s 50-yard freestyle, senior Indigo Armon and Ullmann stayed side by side, splashing through the water. The two teammates touched .02 apart, Armon taking first in 22.80. 

Graduate Remi Fabiani set the tone in his individual debut in the 50-yard freestyle with an 18.89, creeping up on the all-time fastest times list for ASU. Fabiani is a transfer from Cal Baptist who specializes in freestyle and backstroke. 

Golland took first place in the women’s 100-yard freestyle and scored nine points for the Sun Devil women. The Israel native tackles sprint freestyle events and is a strong leg for the Sun Devils’ sprint athletes. 

In the men’s 100-yard butterfly, Kharun won the event in 43.91, breaking the pool record. Kharun was just .48 over his own ASU school record in the event. Senior Tommy Palmer worked in a second-place finish with a 45.92. 

Closing out the night in Tempe was another Sun Devil first and second place sweep throughout the men’s and women’s 400-yard freestyle relays. 

“Just everybody is with everybody, and that hypes up the whole meet, and we swim faster because we’re happy,” Sotomayor said.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post