DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 22, 2021) – The Wyoming men's team earned its first dual win of the season with a win over the Denver Pioneers on Friday night at El Pomar Natatorium. The Cowgirls also finished with a 137-125 victory to move to 6-1 in dual meets.
 
"It was a great opportunity to come down and swim against Denver," head coach Dave Denniston said. "It was different. I don't want to celebrate the wins that would be disingenuous because DU due to COVID only had seven men on their team that could swim. To their credit, we would like to thank them for still hosting the event instead of cancelling it. Our men won by quite a bit but hats off to Denver for allowing us to compete. DU giving us this opportunity means a lot to our program and thanks to them."
 
In the 400 medley relay, the Cowgirls finished second with a mark of 3:56.34 with the team of Hannah Mclean-Leonard, Hannah Linde, Kira Crane and Kali Franckowiak. The team of Max DeYoung, Grant Sloan, Harry Tjaden and Austin Crump placed first in a time of 3:28.49.
 
Britt Nichols finished first in a career-best time of 10:41.23 in the 1000 freestyle while Maggie Clerkin was third with a time of 10:49.85. Brandon Samaniego posted a winning time of 9:45.78 followed by Andrew Columbus turning in a time of 10:06.31 to place fourth.
 
Franckowiak posted a career-winning time of 1:54.86 in the 200 freestyle. Sage Morton was third in a career-time of 1:57.26 with Sani Carsrud right behind posting a time of 1:57.27. The Cowboys took the top four spots in the event. Luke Walker finished with a career-best time of 1:43.31 to place first. Daniel Cumnock-Francois followed with a time of 1:43.63. Ryan Netzel and Cameron Murphy posted times of 1:45.35 and 1:47.25, respectively.
 
In the women's 100 backstroke, Kira Crane was the top finisher with a time of 59.27 followed by Molly Green with a season-best time of 1:00.33. In the men's 100 backstroke, the Cowboys went one, two, three led by Miller Browne in a time of 51.90. Reilly Gilbert recorded a career-time of 52.14 while Andrew Rodriguez touched the wall in 53.44.

"Brandon (Samaniego) in the 1000 free swam his best in season time which was nice. We also had some good backstroke swims out of Max (DeYoung) plus Ryan (Netzel) in the 500 free was in a neck to neck race. A lot of good races and the team looked better than we did last week at Air Force. On the women's side, several freshmen raced and had the chance to shine. Laelle (Brovold) won the 100 butterfly in a comeback win and Madeline (Bane) swam well. We need to give Katelyn (Blattner) credit with a tough double with a 100 freestyle right into a 200 backstroke and won both. Great racing and looking better each time we get to race."
 
Grant Sloan placed atop the podium in the 100 breaststroke posting a mark of 57.45 while Aron Markow with a solid time of 58.82. The women's top finisher was Zoe Robison in a career-best time of 2:00.07.
 
In the 200 butterfly, Mclean-Leonard went 2:07.52 for a top place finish while Isabel Rich went 2:11.65. Thomas Diaz recorded a first place finish turning in a time of 1:53.42, while Tjaden followed with a time of 1:54.66.
 
In the 50 free, Lainee Jones had a mark of 24.50 to place second. She was followed by Madeline Bane and Sani Carsrud with times of 24.56 and 24.63, respectively. DeYoung was the top finisher for the men in a time of 21.34 and Jakob Borrman went 21.74, both career bests.
 
Katelyn Blattner went 52.85 in the 100 free to take first place. Kylee Theiler was third with a career-best time of 52.84. Crump swam his way to a first place finish in a time of 46.84 while Borrman was third in a time of 47.84.
 
Blattner followed up with her performance with a victory in the 200 backstroke just one race after the 100 free. She touched the wall in a time of 2:04.09. Erin Eccleston went 2:12.93 for fifth. DeYoung won his second event of the day with a finished with a career-best time of 1:56.63. Andrea Rodriguez posted a time of 1:59.37.
 
In the 200 breaststroke, Rylie Pilon was the top finisher in second with her time of 2:27.28. Hannah Linde touched the wall in 2.29.58 while Robison finished with a mark of 2:32.31. John Wargin placed second in a time of 2:09.64 followed by Caleb Worshek going 2:13.96.
 
Sage Morton claimed the top spot in the 500 free touching the wall in 5:09.57 followed by teammate Nichols with her time of 5:11.87. Ryan Netzel won in a real battle taking the top spot with his time of 4:42.48 beating out Mads Rishoj who turned in a time of 4.42.85. Samaniego had a time of 4:45.89 to place third.
 
Laelle Brovold came from behind to win the 100 butterfly with a career-best time of 58.11. Jones posted a time of 58.65 for a third place spot. Tjaden also took first with his time of 51.61, while Mitchell Hovis was third in a time of 52.02.
 
In the 200 IM, Mclean-Leonard won her second event of the day with a time of 2:07.18, while Rich was fourth posting a time of 2:11.86. Thomas Diaz was first for the men in a season-best time of 1:56.09, while Walker went a career-best time of 1:57.28.
 
In the final event of the day, the team of Blattner, Carsrud, Franckowiak and Jones placed first with a time of 3:29.89 in the 400 freestyle relay. For the men, Crump, DeYoung, Netzel and Sloan also finished first posting a time of 3:09.43.
 
Both squads will be back in the pool on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 28-29 in a double dual against Hawaii and UNLV. The competition is schedule to beginning at 2 p.m. MT on the first day and 10 a.m. MT on the second.