On a day set to honor seniors, underclassmen led the show for the UH swimming team in a big way Saturday as they defeated the University of New Orleans 105-71.
Junior Sasha Schwendenwein was impressive throughout the day. She dominated the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10 minutes, 40.51 seconds. The Privateers’ Sarah Gross was her closest competitor, finishing with 11:12.76.
Schwendenwein also came out on top in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:09.30. New Orleans junior Erica Granesater finished a distant second with 2:13.81
In the 200-yard freestyle, junior Andrea Pa’lmai got a great jump, leading by nearly two seconds in the first lap, and finished with a top time of 1:56.12.
Pa’lmai also powered to the finish with 2:04.18 in the 200-yard backstroke, with Privateers’ junior Ashley McClelland finishing second at 2:10.71.
Freshmen Brittany Copeland and Paige Bissett also looked sharp in their wins. Copeland won the 50-yard freestyle with 25.2.
Bissett’s race, the 500-yard freestyle, went down to the wire in what was the most exciting race of the day. She posted a time of 5:23.43, with New Orleans’ junior Cathryn Garvey coming in a close second at 5:23.68.
Houston also won the 400-yard medley relay, dominating the competition with 4:02.50.
With the meet win, the Cougars finished up the season with a winning record of 9-8. The Conference USA Championship meet will take place Feb. 27 through March 1 at the Recreation Center Natatorium.
