HOUSTON, Texas - The McMurry University women's swimming team turned in a resilient, standout two-day performance over the weekend against the University of St. Thomas at the Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center, highlighted by seven individual event victories and a cascade of season-best times across all four strokes.
Sydney Andreasen and
Brooklynn Lizcano set the tone throughout the dual, anchoring the War Hawks' effort by claiming every top individual finish for the squad. Andreasen swept the sprint and distance freestyle events, winning all four races she entered. She ignited her weekend on Day 1 by touching first in the 50-yard freestyle with a rapid 27.25. Andreasen maintained that torrid pace into Day 2, claiming the 100 freestyle in 58.58, capturing the 200 freestyle in an authoritative season-best time of 2:06.84, and closing out her dominant freestyle exhibition by besting the field in the 500 freestyle in 5:46.58. She also added a third-place finish in the 50 butterfly (30.54) on opening day.
Lizcano was equally formidable across the stroke events, earning three individual victories over the two sessions. On Day 1, Lizcano struck first in the 50 backstroke, posting a season-best win in 31.10. She quickly followed with a first-place swim in the 50 breaststroke, logging an event-winning season-best mark of 35.77. The sophomore carried that momentum into Day 2, storming to victory in the 100 backstroke with a season-best 1:07.89. Lizcano also produced podium finishes in the individual medleys, taking runner-up honors in the 100 IM (1:08.10) and notching second place in the 200 IM with a season-best time of 2:29.24. She capped her weekend of work by claiming third in the 100 breaststroke in a season-best 1:16.70.
McMurry's depth showed throughout the lineup, as several War Hawks posted notable improvements.
Nicole Ryman took fifth in the 50 backstroke on Day 1 with a season-best 33.51, then returned on Day 2 to secure a podium spot in the 200 freestyle, touching third in 2:16.37. Ryman also grabbed fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:12.73) and sixth in the 50 freestyle (28.88).
Emilee Thompson delivered strong swims across both days, registering season-best times in the 50 backstroke (37.99, 8th), the 50 freestyle (30.77, 9th), and the 100 freestyle (1:08.72, 5th). Bree Schmidt also pocketed a season best on Sunday, taking third in the 200 IM (2:57.49), fourth in the 100 IM (1:21.32), and sixth in the 200 free (2:24.69).
Hannah Miller provided a steady point-scoring presence, finishing third in the 100 freestyle (1:06.35), fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:12.90), and eighth in the 50 freestyle (29.67).
Taylor Kriner rounded out the lineup on Day 2, competing in the 100 free (1:23.45) and 200 free (3:02.13).
In relay competition, the War Hawk quartet of Lizcano, Thompson, Miller, and Ryman took second in Friday's 200 freestyle relay with a combined time of 1:57.35. On Saturday, Ryman, Lizcano, Miller, and Thompson claimed third in the 200 medley relay (2:11.54) before Miller, Ryman, Thompson, and Andreasen wrapped up the weekend with a runner-up showing in the 400 freestyle relay, posting a 4:15.01 behind Andreasen's 59.17 anchor leg.
McMurry will return to the pool on Saturday, November 7, traveling to the COM Aquatics Center in Midland, Texas, to compete against the University of Texas Permian Basin at 11:00 a.m.
