TCU and SMU alternated wins all throughout the swimming and diving meet Wednesday, making the last few events decide the winner of the meet.
TCU men fell to the SMU men 156-144.
“[The swimming and diving coaches] want [the men] to know what it feels like when we say anyone on the team can make a difference,” head coach Richard Sybesma said. “Everyone made a difference tonight, whether it be first place or fifth. I think we grew up as a team tonight, both by bringing it in the pool, and putting the team before themselves.”
Most of the men improved their times in each event. The men of the 400 free relay shaved off almost 3.5 seconds from the last run against North Dakota. Freshman Corey Nix, junior Sebastian Arispe Silva, sophomore August Van Allen and senior Devin Price finished the race in 3:05.41, which was not enough to defeat the Mustangs with 3:04.55.
In the 200 butterfly, junior Luiz Azarias, freshman Grayson Whitten and junior Ryker Saunders swept the event coming in first, second and third respectively.
Winning the 50 free gave the Frogs a 75-56 lead. Price touched the wall at 21.03 as SMU’s Ryan Koops placed second at 21.06.
Sophomore Thor Stenfjord and junior Michael Franz took on the 1,000 free and 500 free.
In the 1,000 free, Stenfjord came in first with a time of 9:35.08. Franz followed about four seconds later to finish second.
With the 500 free, Stenfjord and Franz finished second and third.
“[Stenfjord] is tough as nails. He is a blue-collar swimmer. He is always working to get better,” Sybesma said.
Freshman Adam Szilagyi and sophomore Cooper Robinson competed in backstroke. Szilagyi made his debut in the 100 back taking first place with Robinson coming in second, about one second later.
Robinson later competed in the 200 back winning the event in 1:48.34.
“Cooper and Adam are going to help each other get better,” Sybesma said.
The diving team took on the 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards. The Frogs finished in third, sophomore Ricky Bradley, and fifth, sophomore Curtis Muller, on the 1-meter.
In the 3-meter sophomores Bradley and Sean Evans finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The swimmers' next competition will be the USA Short Course Nationals Nov. 29-Dec. 1. The divers' next competition will be at the Cougar Invitational Nov. 15-17 in Houston.
