MOSCOW, Idaho-- The Bakersfield men's swimming and diving team downed the Redhawks of Seattle U in a dual meet on Saturday by a score of 170.5-123.5. The Roadrunners rode the strong performances of two of Bakersfield's biggest weapons, Lovre Soric (Fr., Zagreb, Croatia, X. Gimnazija Ivan Supek) and Mitchell Huxhold (Sr., Escondido, Calif., San Pasqual HS).
“It was fun,” said Chris Hansen, Bakersfield's Director of Swimming, after the meet. “We 1-2-3 them in the first two events, the 1000 and 200 free, and our team went nuts. Lovre impressed me today. He had a season best in the 200 back, won the 200 IM, and then jumped up right away to anchor the 200 free. He came from behind to win that relay.” Soric's season best time in the 200 back was 1:53.06 and drops his previous best time by nearly two seconds.
Huxhold continued to dominate the pool, as Hansen pointed out: “Mitchell won three events again today: the 1000 and 200 free and an off event, the 100 free. He continues to show what a force he is.” That force from Escondido has picked up wins in all but two of his 12 individual races this season.
While the 'Runner men relied on freshmen to clinch the win a week ago against Fresno Pacific, the team enjoyed the fast swims of two other upperclassmen on Saturday. “Brett Emery and Gabriel Bertrand had some great wins today that helped us pull away from Seattle,” said Hansen. Emery (Jr., Sacramento, Calif., Bella Vista HS) finished third in the 200 breast (2:10.43) and first in the 100 breast (58.48) on his way to picking up season-best times in both events. Bertrand had Top 3 finishes in the 100 (47.86), 200 (1:43.95), and 500 free (4:47.36) on his way to scoring big points for the 'Runners.
Bakersfield also got double wins out of their freshman diving standout, Brayden Greenwald (Henderson, Nev., Coronado HS). The Nevada native won the 3-meter with 240.45 points before taking the 1-meter with a collegiate-best score of 265.57.
"This men's team is so powerful,” said Hansen. “I don't think we have seen our full potential yet. We are a young team and we need to develop. Don't get me wrong, we are doing great, but watch out WAC! We haven't been 100% yet and it's coming."
The Roadrunner men will have a little less than two weeks to prepare for their next big meet. The swimmers will head to Monterey Park to take on the Arena Invitational, Nov. 20-22, while the divers will travel to Claremont for the Pomona-Pitzer Diving Invitational on the 22nd in Claremont.
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