Strong performances by several La Verne swimmers at the Bulldog Invite have many in the Leopard swim and dive contingent eagerly anticipating the upcoming season.
The Leopard men's and women's teams started the season donning pink LV swim caps to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month agiainst nationally ranked teams at the Bulldog Invite held at California Baptist University in Riverside.
On the men's side Division II powerhouse Grand Canyon led the meet from start to finish followed by Division II California Baptist, NAIA Concordia, Redlands, La Verne and then Whittier. The Leopard women placed sixth overall as Grand Canyon finished first followed by Cal Baptist, Concordia, Redlands and Whittier.
Coach Pat Skehan is eagerly anticipating what the 2012-2013 campaign has to offer stating that "it was a great first meet for us," She also added that it was a solid team performance with lots of people contributing. "It sets us up for a successful campaign," she said.
Putting big points on the board for the Leopards included sophomore Maddie Lovrensky won the 100 backstroke in an NCAA national ranking time of 59.75 and she followed up finishing second in the 200 backstroke. Junior Jacob Tittle controlled the boards winning the one meter diving while finishing second in the three meter competition.
Other top ten finisher's for La Verne included Marc Okimura, who finished second in the 100 breastroke in a nationally ranked time of 58.99, Coleman Goode got a pair of fourth place finishes in the 200 Backstroke (2:01.82) and the 200 IM (2:03.05), Andrew Mirafoir finished with a pair of fifth-place finishes in 1 meter and 3 meter diving events.
Cody Yeo finished with a seventh-place effort in the 500 free (4:59.84) and eighth in the 200 free (1:49.31); Sammi Shimoto placed sixth in the women's 100 fly (1:02.45) and Nicole Carlton captured an eighth place effort in the 500 freestyle (5:37.51).
The Leopards will next compete on November 10th at the Bulldog Pentathalon in Redlands.