PROVO, Utah–The White Team defeated the Blue Team 248-218 Saturday in BYU’s annual Blue and White meet at the Richards Building Pool. The win gave the White Team the overall victory in the weeklong competition.
“We had such a great level of enthusiasm all week,” BYU head coach John Brooks said. “I was very impressed with the team spirit and competitiveness we had all week. We are lightyears ahead of where we are supposed to be for this meet, so I'm really impressed with that, and where our team is at right now.”
The team did not keep times in the annual scrimmage, but points were given out to teams with top finishes in each individual and team event.
The White Team came out strong in the first key event of the meet, with the team of Jake Taylor, Rainer Ng, Riley Merrill and Natalie Bennion winning the mixed 200 yard relay.
Dallin Johnson responded for the Blue Team by taking the mixed 1000 freestyle in convincing fashion.
The teams split the next races, with Emily Harris winning the women’s 200 free for the White Team and Luis Ventura taking the men’s 200 free for the Blue.
Freshman Ellie Thornbrue put the White Team on the board, winning the women’s 200 butterfly. Ng then completed the 200 butterfly sweep for the White Team, taking the event for the men.
Alexandria Sorensen put the Blue Team back on the scoreboard, winning the women’s 50 free. Payton Sorenson won the men’s 50 free, completing a Blue Team sweep in the event.
Freshman Connor Stirling kept the Blue winning going, taking the men’s 100 free event.
The teams split the 200 back, with Samantha Lingenbrink winning the women’s side for the White Team, and Preston Jenkins winning the men’s event for the Blue Team.
In the 200 yard breast, Hanna Skaggs took first for the White Team. Stephen Richards took the race for the Blue Team on the men’s side of the event.
Vanessa Moffatt won the women’s 500 free for the White Team, while Ventura took the men’s 500 free for the Blue Team.
In the final race of the day, the Blue Team came up with a solid victory in the mixed 200 free relay, with the team of Payton Sorenson, Alexandria Sorensen, Brenna Dickson and Stirling taking first.
“The meet was great, and there was some great team building,” BYU head diving coach Tyce Routson said. “There was great effort on both sides. We are coming together as a team early, and I think that will help us throughout the season.”
On the diving side of the event, Kevin Dreesen stood out, and looked to be in midseason form, winning the men’s 1 meter and 3 meters events. Freshman Kaela Call took the women’s 1 meter, while Erica Lienhard took first in the 3 meters event.
The Cougars will travel to Salt Lake City next Saturday to compete in a relay meet with Utah. The meet will take place at the Ute Natatorium at 11 a.m. MDT.