DALLAS, Texas – Oklahoma Baptist swim gave challenge to one of the top NCAA Division I teams in the region battling Southern Methodist in a dual Saturday in Dallas, Texas.
The Bison men won five-of-13 races against the Mustangs and had a number of swimmers post outstanding times. The OBU women did not race the hosts but still showcased their abilities on a prestigious stage.
Coach Sam Freas said he was encouraged by the way his team competed against SMU and liked the way they challenged the Mustangs in several races.
"Today gave us a strong idea of what we need to work on and get corrected before our conference meet," Freas said. "We represented OBU very well against a very talented program in SMU."
On the women's side,
Victoria Fonville and
Marizel Van Jaarsveld each won three events. Fonville placed first in the 100 breaststroke, 50 and 100 freestyle races. Van Jaarsveld won 200 intermediate, butterfly and backstroke. Her time of 2:03.08 in the 200 back is among the best this season in NCAA Division II
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Other highlights included
Jamie Edwards had her best time in the 100 butterfly at 59.35
On the men's side,
Tristan Villa and Austin Sanders went one-two in the 200 butterfly.
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Robinson Molina won the 200 backstroke by nearly two full seconds over a pair of SMU swimmers. Molina's time of 1:48.93 is among the top in NCAA Division II.
The Bison competed in an unusual 8 x 50 freestyle relay and nudged SMU at the wall by .16 seconds. Molina and Sanders teamed with
Ryan Walker and Austin Sanders to record a time of 2:48.86, just ahead of SMU's 2:49.02.
OBU will resume its schedule on Saturday, Feb. 9 when they return back to Dallas for the SMU Invitational.
