By Beth Renkoski

10/9-10/09

Vanguard Qualifies Eight in Swimming Debut

Fresno, Calif--- The Men’s and Women’s Swimming Programs at Vanguard made their debut this weekend at the PCSC (Pacific Collegiate Swimming Conference) Relays and Pentathlon in Fresno, California. The two-day meet was held at the Clovis North High School Aquatics Center with Vanguard and four other GSAC schools among the mixed-level field of participants, including Biola, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, UC Santa Cruz, Grand Canyon, Soka, Seattle, Mills, California Baptist, Concordia, Azusa Pacific, and host Fresno Pacific University. Vanguard highlights included qualifying two relay teams and one individual for the NAIA Swim Championships.

The first day of action began Friday afternoon with the Relay portion of the event taking place, followed by the Pentathlon competition on Saturday. Vanguard had athletes competing both days in individual as well as relay events with most athletes improving on their entry marks and setting new personal records. In addition, being a first-year program, the best VU time in each event notches a school record.

The Vanguard men’s swimming team was led individually by Troy Baxter, a freshman from Manotick, Canada. Baxter met the NAIA National Qualifying Standard in the 100 yard Freestyle (49.69) by swimming to a time of 48.73. In addition, Baxter anchored the Vanguard men’s 200 yard Freestyle Relay Team, also meeting the NAIA National Qualifying Standard of 1:36.60. Partnering with Joe Sanders, Jonathan Robinson, and Ryan Hastings, Baxter swam the fourth and final 50 yard leg of the 200 yard relay as the Lions were clocked at 1:34.01 as a team. Sanders opened with a time of 23.95, followed by Robinson (24.26), Hastings (23.90), and Baxter with the team’s lowest time of 21.90. Baxter, Sanders, Robinson, and Hastings will be eligible to compete at the NAIA Swimming Championships in March.

The Vanguard women also had success qualifying for the postseason as the ladies 200 yard Freestyle Relay surpassed the NAIA National Qualifying Standard as well. Needing to beat a time of 1:55.39, the VU women combined for a team time of 1:52.06, shattering the mark by more than three seconds. Leading off for the Lions, Tabitha Espineli finished her 50 yard swim with a time of 28.80. Jessica Morales increased VU’s pace, clocking in at 27.68, and Hanna Szpyrka swam the third leg with a mark of 29.38. Vanguard’s sophomore anchor Davina Ellis checked in with the relay team’s swiftest time (26.20) to complete the competition and seal the standard-breaking time for the Lions. Ellis also nearly qualified individually in the 50 yard Freestyle as her anchor time narrowly missed the National Qualifying cutoff of 26.09.

In all, the Lions had nine men and six women compete in swimming for the first time in the history of Vanguard University. Complete Vanguard results are listed below as well as team scores and a PDF of the complete PCSC Meet Results.

The first-year program will continue the season at the Nike Cup from November 19-21.

PCSC Relay Results, 10/09/09

TEAM SCORES FOR RELAY EVENT ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009
MEN
1. Concordia 107, 2. Fresno Pacific 103.5, 3. Seattle 83, 4. Grand Canyon 53, 5. Biola 35.5, 6. Cal Baptist 18, 7. Vanguard 5, 8. Soka 3
WOMEN
1. Loyola Marymount 137, 2. Concordia 91, 3. Fresno Pacific 66, 4. Grand Canyon 50, 5. Biola 43, 6. Azusa 36, 7. Cal Baptist 9
COMBINED
1. Concordia 198, 2. Fresno Pacific 169.5, 3. Loyola Marymount 137, 4. Grand Canyon 103, 5. Seattle 83, 6. Biola 78.5, 7. Azusa 36, 8. Cal Baptist 27, 9. Vanguard 5, 10. Soka 3
TEAM SCORES FOR PENTATHLON EVENT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009
MEN
1. Concordia 678.5, 2. Fresno Pacific 441.5, 3. Cal Baptist 353.5, 4. Seattle 237, 5. Grand Canyon 188.5, 6. Santa Cruz 164, 7. Biola 103, 8. Vanguard 11, 9. Soka 1
WOMEN
1. Loyola Marymount 642, 2. Pepperdine 457.5, 3. Concordia 340.5, 4. Cal Baptist 226.5, 5. Fresno Pacific 196.5, 6. Grand Canyon 186, 7. Santa Cruz 121, 8. Azusa 114, 9. Biola 31
COMBINED
1. Concordia 1019, 2. Loyola Marymount 642, 3. Fresno Pacific 638, 4. Cal Baptist 580, 5. Pepperdine 457.5, 6. Grand Canyon 374.5, 7. Santa Cruz 285, 8. Seattle 237, 9. Biola 134, 10. Azusa 114, 11. Vanguard 11, 12. Soka 1