Swimming & Diving trains at USOTC, gets nonconference reps

COLORADO SPRINGS — The University of La Verne swimming and diving teams got a unique opportunity to train at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs this week and got in a nonconference multi-dual meet against Colorado College and Austin College on Dec. 17.

The Leopards, who left for Colorado the morning after the conclusion of the 2014 Collegiate Winter Invitational, took full advantage of the facilities and resources the Olympic Training Center offered.

The student-athletes stayed at the Athlete Center, which offers housing, meals and recreational facilities for both resident and short term program users.

Most of the training took place at the Aquatic Center, which is primarily used for training and testing of the country's finest Olympic and Paralympic swimmers, pentathletes, triathletes and water polo players. The facility featured an overhead catwalk and underwater cameras for filming athletes, and also utilized other training aides such as a towing system, power towers, climbing ropes and free weights to help maximize training.

Getting some underwater filming done this morning! Pulling out all the goodies out here. pic.twitter.com/q1iTOYaCM4

— La Verne Swim & Dive (@LaVerneSwimDive) December 17, 2014

The Leopards also got a chance to lift weights at the Center's multi-gymnasium Sports Center complex.

Last lift of the week. Starting to hit that we're leaving tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/3RJtdqxlI8

— La Verne Swim & Dive (@LaVerneSwimDive) December 18, 2014

With a few days of high-level training under their belts, the Leopards visited Colorado College to take on the Tigers and the Roos of Austin College.

The men's team swept both while the women split, beating Austin but losing to Colorado College.

"We really raced well, but the altitude, the indoor pool and the amount of work we were doing really challenged us," La Verne head coach Pat Skehan said. "We really battled to overcome the elements and this well help us in the future."

The meet was highlighted by record-breaking performances by Scott MacKay and Amber DeLoye in diving. MacKay posted six-dive totals of 270.90 and 301.65, respectively, on the 1-meter and the 3-meter boards to break both of La Verne's previous records. DeLoye scored a total of 166.50 on the 1-meter and 174.30 on the 3-meter.

Maddie Lovrensky won all three events in which she swam, taking the 100 yard backstroke (59.39), the 200 medley relay (1:52.51) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:45.35).

Karla Fuertez was the only other individual winner for the women. Fuertez claimed the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:36.73.

Mike Sanchez was a double winner on the men's side. The senior won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:03.56 and was the only swimmer to come in under a minute in the 100 breaststroke (59.52).

Jarrett Peterson won the 200 freestyle (1:51.08), Daniel Carpenter (47.81) claimed the 100 freestyle and Felipe Avendano Vila (54.68) continued his hot stretch with a win in the 100 butterfly.

The Leopards will get an extended break before resuming SCIAC action against Caltech and Pomona-Pitzer on Jan. 10.