For the first time in two weeks, the Eagles jumped back in the pool with a meet at Azusa Pacific University on Nov. 5. However, the Eagles had one of their weaker outings of the season in competitions against APU and Chapman University. The women took home a victory over Chapman but lost to the host Cougars. The men lost their only meet to Chapman, as Azusa does not have a men’s swim team.
Silverlinings take the pool
Despite the rough outing as a team, several Eagles stood out individually. This proved especially true for many of the freshmen. Andrew Benson had the best performance of his young collegiate career, recording his first victories of the year in the men’s 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle. Biola represented themselves well in the women’s equivalent of those events, as Rachel Stinchcomb finished second in the women’s 200-yard freestyle and Emily Silzel finished second in the women’s 500-yard freestyle. All three swimmers are in their first year at Biola. Raymond Kam, also a freshman, won the men’s 200-yard breaststroke.
The upperclassmen put in some good performances as well with several strong showings in the relays. Junior Tom Franicevich added a victory in the 100-yard freestyle, and a relay squad made up of Kam, Benson, junior Daniel Vale and senior Michael Severi won the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay. The Biola women also finished second in their own 200-yard freestyle relay, and added a third place finish in the 400-yard medley.
The lone individual victory
In addition to contributing on the relay teams, Lisa Tixier recorded the only individual victory for the Eagles on the women’s side, winning the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:10.54. It marked only the latest accomplishment in what has been a very strong season for Tixier, the sister of recent Biola Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Christine Tixier. The junior has already qualified for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships in several events and has the most individual wins out of the entire Biola swim team this season.
The Eagles have a week to turn the page before they head to Aliso Viejo, Calif. for an invitational at Soka University on Nov. 12.
