Back and forth swim meet leads to ASU, UCLA tie

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)

As the sun finally dipped below the stands of Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, the 200-meter freestyle relay started, and when it ended, the announcement was different than what anyone expected. Arizona State swim and dive’s meet against the University of California, Los Angeles would end in a tie, 150-150.

It was the Sun Devils’ women’s team that started the weekend, as they took on No. 23 UCLA on Friday Afternoon. The Sun Devils entered the meet ranked No. 18 in the nation and looked to start off the weekend with a win before facing the University of Southern California on Saturday.

The meet began with the 400-meter team medley relay, where UCLA took the win, finishing one hundredth of a second ahead of ASU with a time of 3.33.18 after multiple lead changes.

The 200-meter freestyle was up next, and ASU struck back hard as sophomore Jordan Greber took the win by almost a second with a time of 1.45.9. UCLA came back with Rosie Murphy taking the 100-meter backstroke.

In the 100-meter breaststroke, UCLA took the win again with Sarah Bennetts touching the wall with a time of 59.97. However, the Sun Devils claimed second, third and fourth, making the points for the event 10-9 in favor of ASU.

The 200-meter butterfly was shone by ASU dominance with a win from junior Sonia Vaishnani with a three-second lead victory with a time of 1:57.5. The blistering 50-meter freestyle was up next with a 22.02 from UCLA’s Jada Duncan picking up the win.

After a quick break, the 100-yard freestyle started the meet back up with the winners of the 50 and the 200 competing again. Duncan took first with a time of 48.72 and Greber took second, posting a 49.57.

With the 200 backstroke underway, Murphy took the win for UCLA, but once again, ASU took all the remaining points. In the 200 breaststroke, Bennetts took her second win of the day however, once again ASU took second, third and fourth, resulting in another 10–9 point event in favor of ASU.

Going into the 500 Freestyle, thanks to some strong diving from ASU, the lead shrank to one point at a total of 104-103. The Sun Devils would ride the momentum through the 500, finishing first, second and third, bringing the lead back to 14 points for ASU.

The 100 butterfly would bring a hat trick for Duncan, winning all three butterfly events of the day, but once again, ASU would still take the three other point positions, as UCLA only gained a point on ASU.

ASU struggled with diving, and with only two events remaining, ASU‘s lead was cut down to six. The 200 individual medley was dominated by Murphy, who would grab another win with ASU, grabbing another second, third and fourth.

It all came down to the 200-yard freestyle relay, with it close through all legs. All swimmers were separated by less than a second however, it would be UCLA, once again winning. Cheering came from both sides at the finish, however. Despite all the back and forth, UCLA and ASU would end in a 150-150 tie.