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DAVIS, Calif. – In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, the swimming and diving team delivered a decisive victory against the Spartans during a non-conference dual meet, culminating with a commanding score of 208-84.
Standout performances marked the competition, as the Aggies captured top honors in 12 out of 16 swimming events and all two diving exhibitions.
Senior Taylor Schwarz dazzled the crowd with a season-best performance in the three-meter dive, earning an exceptional score of 262.20. Following her lead, junior Priscilla Nguyen secured second place with a noteworthy score of 243.30, while sophomore Karina Giacomazza contributed to an Aggie sweep with a respectable 230.48.
Taking center stage in the one-meter event, junior Leila Busch clinched first place with an astonishing personal record of 261.98, while freshman Lauren Kudo followed closely behind, finishing with an impressive score of 248.48.
The first Aggie victory of the day was attributed to sophomore Nalanie Cortez, who showcased her endurance and technique in the grueling 1,000-yard freestyle, achieving a time of 10:32.15. Junior Elena Gingras put forth a strong effort, finishing just milliseconds later at 10:32.97 to earn second place.
In a pivotal moment during the meet, sophomore Emily Scheberies secured a vital victory for the Aggies in the 100-yard backstroke, clocking in at 57.06, while the Spartans trailed closely behind. Demonstrating her prowess in the 100-yard breaststroke, senior Sam Rhodes achieved a time of 1:03.28, with Spartans again hot on her trail.
In an impressive show of dominance, the Aggies executed a clean sweep in the 200-yard butterfly, thanks to stellar performances from Ellie Heit, Sarah Hardin, Summer Mitchell, and Ema Klimauskas, who finished in first through fourth place, respectively.
Demonstrating their distance prowess, the Aggies once again showcased their swimming finesse in the 500 freestyle, where Gingras and Cortez excelled, achieving first and second with times of 5:06.56 and 5:11.51. Sophomore Elsie Luisetti secured third with a time of 5:11.80, rounding out a formidable showing for the Aggies.
Concluding the day’s exciting events, the Aggies triumphed in the 400-yard freestyle relay, finishing with a time of 3:27.10—just shy of setting a new Schaal Center record. The relay team, consisting of Katie McLain, Sophi Mackay, Christy Douglas, and Naomi Boegholm, showcased their synergy, finishing two seconds ahead of their nearest competitors.
Additionally, sophomore Naomi Boegholm made her mark with a standout performance in the 50 freestyle, clocking in at an impressive 23.56, which will go down as the third-fastest time recorded in the pool’s history.
In total, swimmers Ellie Heit, Sam Rhodes, Katie McLain, Sophi Mackay, and Naomi Boegholm each walked away with a pair of first-place finishes, reflecting the depth and talent of the Aggie squad.
“I felt like this was a nice way to end our fall dual meet season as we had many season-best times across all groups this afternoon,” expressed head coach Matt Macedo. “Our team has focused on trying to make each meet better than the meet before, and I feel our Aggies did just that today against San Jose State. I am excited to see what we can do in a couple of weeks at our mid-season championship.”
UP NEXT: The Aggies are set to split their squad, with swimmers heading to the Utah Tech Trailblazer Invite while the divers travel to compete at the Lumberjack Diving Invite hosted by Northern Arizona University.
TOP THREE TIMES:
200 Yard Medley Relay
2. Boegholm, Rhodes, Hardin, Douglas, 1:44.18
1000 Yard Freestyle
- Nalanie Cortez, 10:32.15
- Elena Gingras, 10:32.97
200 Yard Freestyle
- Katie McLain, 1:53.89
- Elsie Luisetti, 1:55.03
- Jordan Bindseil, 1:55.16
100 Yard Backstroke
- Emily Scheberies, 57.06
100 Yard Breaststroke
- Sam Rhodes, 1:03.28
200 Yard Butterfly
- Ellie Heit, 2:04.61
- Sarah Hardin, 2:05.24
- Summer Mitchell, 2:07.70
50 Yard Freestyle
- Naomi Boegholm, 23.56
3. Sophi Mackay, 23.82
100 Yard Freestyle
1. Sophi Mackay, 51.95
3. Christy Douglas, 52.78
200 Yard Backstroke
- Brynn Graham, 2:05.02
200 Yard Breaststroke
- Sam Rhodes, 2:18.35
- Haley Hoefer, 2:21.53
500 Yard Freestyle
- Elena Gingras, 5:06.56
- Nalanie Cortez, 5:11.51
- Elsie Luisetti, 5:11.80
100 Yard Butterfly
- Ellie Heit, 56.42
- Sarah Hardin, 56.70
200 Yard IM
- Sam Rhodes, 2:05.82
- Brynn Graham, 2:06.56
400 Yard Freestyle Relay
- McLain, MacKay, Douglas, Boegholm, 3:27.10
3. Valenta, Bindseil, Wong, Boyer, 3:30.89
**Interview with UC Davis Swimming and Diving Coach Matt Macedo**
**Interviewer:** Thanks for joining us today, Coach Macedo. Congratulations on a commanding victory against San Jose State. How does it feel to see your team perform so well?
**Coach Macedo:** Thank you! It feels fantastic. The team really came together and showcased their skills and hard work. It was a great way to close out our fall dual meet season, and I’m proud of everything they accomplished.
**Interviewer:** Several swimmers had standout performances. Can you highlight a few that really impressed you during the meet?
**Coach Macedo:** Absolutely! Taylor Schwarz in the three-meter dive was exceptional with a season-best score. In the swimming events, Emily Scheberies’ victory in the 100-yard backstroke was crucial, and I was also thrilled to see our swimmers dominate the 200-yard butterfly with a clean sweep. Their performances indicate that we have depth across our roster.
**Interviewer:** Your team seemed to excel particularly in relay events. What does this say about the team’s chemistry?
**Coach Macedo:** Relay events are all about teamwork and synergy, so seeing our team finish with such strong times really illustrates how well they work together. The 400-yard freestyle relay team was just two seconds shy of a record, which shows that they’re pushing each other to excel. They have built a great rapport in practice and it’s showing in competition.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what are your expectations for the upcoming mid-season championship?
**Coach Macedo:** We’re definitely excited about it! Our focus has been on improving with each meet, and I believe we’re on the right track. We’ll be splitting the squad for our next competitions, which allows for some targeted training and gives us an opportunity to see how our divers and swimmers can shine in different environments. I’m looking forward to seeing the results.
**Interviewer:** Your team seems very strong this season. Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
**Coach Macedo:** I just want to commend the athletes for their dedication and effort. It’s a collaborative mission, where every swimmer and diver plays a role in our success. I’m excited about the future and can’t wait to see how we perform at the upcoming championship. Thank you for having me!
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Coach Macedo! Best of luck to you and the UC Davis Aggies.
