SPORTS: Freshman Pace IUPUI At Hall Of Champions Invite

by Kelsey Renbarger


Saturday, the men's and women's swimming and diving team hosted the 2011 House of Champions meet at the nationally recognized IUPUI Natatorium. The teams combined put up nine podium finishes, three of which came from freshman Lexi Laird.


Laird teamed up with Lizzie Bourgeois, Margaret Barber and Lindsey Hurst for a first place win in the 200 yard free relay. The four finished the relay with a 1:38:75 time.

Laird finished third in both 100 and 200 yard backstroke finals with times of 59:70 and 2:09:26, respectively.

Diver, Chen Ni, was the only other Jaguar to take home first place as she received a 253.75 score on the 1-meter board.

"Overall I'm extremely pleased with the way we performed," said coach Matt Bos. "We are a young team and competing in this format of a meet was a learning experience for everybody."

On the men's side, Mitchel Gauger placed third in the 3-meter dive with a 259.00 score. Also ending the meet with third place finishes were Tony Carroll in the 100 yard backstroke, and Adam Ferguson in the 200 yard breaststroke.

Teammates John Van Dyke and Mason Hamilton joined Carroll and Ferguson in the 200 yard medley relay finishing fourth with a 1:39:24 time.

Women swimmers, Bourgeois, Barber, Hurst and Peyton Zehner all had notable performances in their additional events.

The teams have a three week break before going back to competition in early December for the Eastern Michigan invite.

"We are go to keep working hard and look forward to going to Eastern Michigan in a couple weeks where we will have an even bigger test," said Bos.