MALIBU, Calif. — The Cal Lutheran Swim and Dive team wrapped up their first meet of the 2018-19 season with seven Kingsmen recording top-10 finishes and six Regals with top-25 performances in day two of the Malibu Invitational hosted by Pepperdine University at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.
"It was definitely a learning situation for the coaching staff. We saw the Cal Lutheran pride and love for each other really come through," said head coach Barry Schreifels on his first official meet since joining the program, "The meet wasn't about points or times. It was about racing, growing as a team, and learning about each other. Every swimmer also now has a better idea of what they need to do to improve."
Sophomore Andreas Nybo led the Kingsmen with a second-place finish in the 100-yard individual medley, touching the wall at 53.76. He additionally finished sixth in the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:14.71.
Two others also picked up two top-ten finishes apiece. Freshman Miles Gaitan picked up a fifth in the 100-yard backstroke at 57.43 and sixth in the 100-yard individual medley at 56.57. Junior Liam McCallum took home seventh in the 50-free with a 22.38 mark and eighth in the 200-free with a 1:49.64.
Rounding out the men's side, sophomore Brandon Alvarez took seventh in the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:15.87, sophomore Nick Kenny earned eighth in the 50-free at 22.40, junior Ben Brewer also earned eighth in the 500-free at 4:51.68 and freshman Brenden Fuggles took 10th in the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:15.87.
"I think our established veterans were really impressed by the results of the freshmen. Many of them swam their first collegiate races and they were terrific," Schreifels noted.
For the women, junior Emily Sharpe led the pack with three top-25 finishes on the day. She took home 20th in the 100-yard backstroke, recording a 1:07.97, and 21st in both the 200-free and 500-free at 2:05.68 and 5:39.39, respectively.
With the highest finish of the day for the Regals, junior Emily Glass finished 11th in the women's 200-yard breaststroke, reaching the wall at 2:39. 01.
Two other Regals picked up a pair of top-25 finishes each. Freshman Brieyana Walton finished 16th in the 50-free at 26.06 and 22nd in the 100-back at 1:08.72. Sophomore Gabriella Schultz also took home 21st in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:04:55 and 24th in the 500-free with a 5:42.93.
In addition, freshman Avery Conrad finished 23rd with a 1:04.92 in the 100-yard butterfly and senior Anna Lundsten took 21st in the 100-back at 1:08.72.
The team now turns their attention to their first home meet of the year at the Cal Lutheran Sprint Meet on Saturday, October 27, at the Samuelson Aquatics Center.
Full Results: Malibu Invitational
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Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director
