LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – The Ouachita Baptist University Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving teams opened the 2023 season at the All-Arkansas Invite hosted by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Saturday.
 
The Tigers were looking to build on the success of last season, and it appears they have done just that after a solid performance at UALR this past weekend.
 
Five Tigers combined to win seven events on Saturday. They were:

• Jeff McCoy in the men's 200 IM with a time of 1:59.69 and the 100 Backstroke with a time of 54.18.
• Anna Phelps in the women's 500 Freestyle with a time of 5:16.44.
• Tyler Andruss in the men's 500 Freestyle with a time of 4:45.03.
• Gavin Richardson in the 3 Meter Dive with a score of 257.95.
• Carson Powers in the 1 Meter Dive with a score of 271.50.

 
The Tigers had many other swimmers find themselves finishing in the top three of events. The other top performers were:

• Kielee Holcomb took second in the women's 100 Breaststroke with a time of 1:09.14, 0.13 seconds out of first. Holcomb also placed third in the women's 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:57.83.
• The men's 200 Medley Relay squad of Barrett Troup, Miles Schulze, Ian Redman, and Alex Schulze took second place with a time of 1:37.42.
• The women's 200 Freestyle Relay squad of Didi Christenson, Keilee Holcomb, Rachel Del Angel, and Kaylee Stika took second in the event with a time of 1:40.47.
• The men's 200 Freestyle Relay squad of Sam Ragsdell, Fernando Bustillo, Alex Schulze, and Miles Schulze placed second in the event with a time of 1:26.89.
• Noah Smith finished third in the men's 200 Individual Medley with a time of 2:01.09, less than two seconds out of first. Smith also placed fifth in the men's 500 Freestyle with a time of 5:04.00.
• Sparky Sparks placed second in the men's 100 Backstroke with a time of 54:57.
• The men's 400 Freestyle Relay team of Sam Ragsdell, Jeff McCoy, Ian Redman and David Ware placed second in the event with a time of 3:10.32.
• Rachel Del Angel finished third in the women's 100 Butterfly with a time of 59:17, less than a second away from first. Del Angel also placed third in the women's 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:01.49.
• Didi Christenson placed third in the women's 100 Freestyle with a time of 54:50.
• The men's 200 Freestyle Relay squad of James Savarese, Jeff McCoy, Angel Medina, and Rafael Bustillo finished third in the event with a time of 1:30.61.
• Tristain Richert tied for third in the men's 100 Backstroke with a time of 55.29.
• The men's 400 Freestyle Relay squad of Angel Medina, Tyler Andruss, Elijah Christenson, and James Savarese took third in the event with a time of 3:16.36.

 
The Tigers' will be back in action on Thursday, October 5, as they head to Edmond, Oklahoma to take on Oklahoma Christian University. Before the OCU meet, the Tigers will be hosting their annual Alumni Meet on Saturday, September 30 at 9 a.m. in Waggoner Pool.