Friday, February 9
Los Angeles, Calif.
1:00 PM
USC
at
UCLA
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Photo by: Drake Lee
No. 4 Women of Troy Set for Friday Crosstown Showdown Against UCLA Swim & Dive
February 08, 2024 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Trojans look to wrap the regular season undefeated for the first time in program history.
LOS ANGELES – The No. 4 ranked USC women's swim and dive team is headed across town for the annual rivalry meet against UCLA on Friday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. PT at the Spieker Aquatics Center.Â
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The No. 7 Women of Troy (8-0) look to wrap their regular season undefeated, a feat that has never been done in the history of USC women's swimming and diving.Â
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Friday's dual will have swim results available on the Meet Mobile app and DiveMeets.com. Saturday's platform portion of the meet (not scored) will begin at 9 a.m. PT. Live results will be available on DiveMeets.com.Â
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USC-UCLA SeriesÂ
The Trojans hold a 31-17-1 edge against the Bruins … USC secured 10 victories in a row from 2008-17 against the Bruins and posted the first tie in the series in 2018. The 10-meet win streak - matched USC's previous best stretch of 10 in a row from 1994 to 2003 … Last year, the Women of Troy defeated the Bruins 152-148 at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center...In 2022, USC won 15 events and set eight pool records competing at the Spieker Aquatics Center, defeating the Bruins on their home turf … In 2021, the Trojans suffered a loss to the Bruins, snapping a 13-meet unbeaten streak against UCLA … In 2020, USC downed the Bruins 181-119 where the Women of Troy claimed 11 races and swept the sprint free events … In 2019 USC experienced a 181-117 victory at home, winning ten events including one relay … The schools tied 150-150 at UCLA in 2018. USC won seven events, but UCLA caught USC over the final two events to end Troy's 10-meet run … The Trojans' win in 2017 was a 172-128 home victory in which Troy set six pool records and five meet records. Preceding that was a 181-119 victory at UCLA in 2016 and a 174.5-125.5 home win in 2015 that featured five USC swimmers winning two events apiece. In 2014 in Westwood, USC won 165-135, breaking 10 Spieker Aquatics Center pool records and nine meet records in the process. USC defeated UCLA, 167.5-132.5, at USC in 2013. Troy won the 2012 clash in Westwood, 170-130, in a meet in which Trojan swimmers also broke a combined 10 Bruin pool records. That followed a 176-124 victory at USC in 2011, a 164.5-136.5 win at UCLA in 2010, a 160-140 rain-soaked 2009 home win and a 158-142 decision in Westwood in 2008. UCLA last won in 2007 when the Bruins clinched victory during the meet's final relay at McDonald's Swim Stadium. USC hasn't lost to UCLA in Westwood since 2004.Â
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Crosstown CupÂ
The winner of the USC-UCLA dual meet scores 10 points toward the Crosstown Cup, awarded annually to the school with the most successful athletic year against the other. Points are awarded to the winner of each Trojan-Bruin head-to-head contest (100 points is the magic number).Â
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SO FAR THIS SEASON:Â
In their first appearance at home this season, the Trojans captured all six 'dual' wins at the USC Invitational, taking down Hawaii, UCSB and UCSD in the process. The Women of Troy swept all four relays, with Troy also winning three of four relays (400y medley relay, 200y medley relay and 400y free relay).Â
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USC touched first in 11 individual events on both the men's and women's sides at the USC Invitational. Claiming 1-2-3-4 in a dominant 200y free performance was Claire Tuggle (1:45.50), Vasilissa Buinaia (1:46.07), Macky Hodges (1:47.81) and Hannah Kuechler (1:48.48). The Chmielewski twins led a 1-2 finish in the 500y free with Krzysztof (4:16.53) and Michael (4:27.36) touching first and second, respectively.
The USC women's squad opened the season with a victory on the road, capturing the SMU Classic Invitational women's team title. Troy finished third at the invite. Â
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In Dallas, the Trojans swept the 'Swimmer of the Meet' awards, with Justina Kozan winning on the women's side, and Chris O'Grady claiming the men's high point title.Â
Kaitlyn Dobler captured the 100y breaststroke in a pool and meet record time of 57.35, lowering her previous meet record set last year (59.09). Dobler was the lone Trojan to earn NCAA automatic bids at the meet, meeting the standard in both the 100y (57.35) and 200y breaststroke (2:05.59).Â
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Additionally, 16 Trojans have picked up NCAA Provisional times. On the women's side - Anicka Delgado (50y free – 22.05 / 100y free – 48.44 / 100y fly – 52.08), Justina Kozan (200y free – 1:46.14 / 400y IM – 4:03.25 / 200y fly – 1:56.55 / 100y back – 53.11 / 500y free – 4:38.47), Vasilissa Buinaia (50y free – 21.95 / 100y free – 47.40 / 200y free – 1:44.18), Claire Tuggle (100y free – 48.94 / 200y free – 1:44.54 / 500y free - 4:39.16 / 200y IM – 1:58.76 / 400y IM – 4:12.12), Minna Abraham (50y free – 22.44 / 100y free – 48.36 / 200y free – 1:41.38/ 500y free – 4:41.74 / 200y IM – 1:55.78 / 400y IM – 4:11.77), Caroline Famous (50y free – 22.34 / 100y Free – 49.78 / 100y fly – 53.47 / 100y back – 51.48 / 200y back – 1:56.04), Ella Flowers (400y IM – 4:15.74), Hannah Kuechler (200y free – 1:45.13 / 50y Free – 22.58 / 100y free – 48.78), Macky Hodges (200y back – 1:53.75 / 200y fly – 1:58.94 / 200y free – 1:45.06 / 200y IM – 1:58.07 / 400y IM – 4:12.62) and Katherine Adams (100y breast – 1:01.24 / 200y breast – 2:11.53 / 200y IM – 1:58.41). On the men's side – Artem Selin (50y free – 19.12 / 100y free – 42.94), Krzysztof Chmielewski (500y free – 4:13.84/ 100y fly – 46.56 / 200y fly – 1:41.20 / 1650y free – 14:37.74*), Chris O'Grady (200y IM – 1:45.14 / 400y IM – 3:47.73 / 100y breast – 51.53 / 200y breast – 1:52.86), Vaggelis Makyrgiannis (100y back – 46.39 / 200y back – 1:42.16 / 200y free – 1:35.79), Michal Chmielewski (100y fly – 47.00 / 200y fly – 1:42.17/ 100y back – 47.28) and Ben Dillard (100y breast – 52.58 / 200y breast – 1:52.50 / 200y IM – 1:43.24).Â
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In November, the Women of Troy opened Pac-12 competition with a pair of desert dual wins, downing No. 21 ASU and Arizona. Against No. 1 ASU and Arizona, Troy would come up short of a victory, falling to 0-2 to start the season.Â
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At the mid-season championship invite, USC set a batch of school records and turned in some of the top times in the country. The Women of Troy opened the meet with a statement win, claiming the 200y medley relay in a school record time of 1:34.07 as Caroline Famous, Kaitlyn Dobler, Anicka Delgado and Vasilissa Buinaia combined to take the event. USC closed out the evening with another major swim in the 800y freestyle relay, as Claire Tuggle, Buinaia, Justina Kozan and Minna Abraham posted an NCAA leading time of 6:53.54 to earn an automatic cut and claim the victory. Thursday saw senior Ben Dillard (200y IM) and the Women of Troy's 400y medley A-relay each set school records during the second day of action at the Texas Hall of Fame Swimming Invitational. Dillard, whose previous season best was a 1:47.73, dropped over four seconds to clock a 1:43.24 en route to a fourth-place finish. The third day of action was highlighted by freshman Minna Abraham's 200y freestyle school record (1:41.38) and a women's 200y freestyle relay record (Buinaia, Delgado, Dobler and Abraham – 1:27.07). The final day of action included one of the biggest swims of the season for freshman Krzysztof Chmielewski, who dominated both the 1650y freestyle and the 200y fly. Chmielewski entered the meet with the country's top time in the mile at 14:41.62, but further solidified the top spot after firing a 14:37.74 in Austin to take the event and win by a margin of 22 seconds. That time would have been good enough for fifth place at last year's NCAA meet. The Trojan rookie would later return to blast a 1:41.61 and claim the 200y fly championship final.Â
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After impressive performances during the month of November, Krzysztof Chmielewski and Minna Abraham each earned Pac-12 'Swimmer of the Month' honors.
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USC men's and women's swimming opened spring action with wins over UNLV at home on January 6. The Women of Troy swept the Rebels as Trojan Anicka Delgado contributed a pair of individual event wins en route to a Pac-12 Women's Swimmer of the Week award.Â
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The following weekend, the Women of Troy beat UC San Diego and Utah, while Troy handled business against the Tritons (UCSD). The same weekend, USC's diving squad claimed both team events and saw Laurent Gosselin-Paradis win on 3-Meter, Shangfei Wang win on 1-Meter and Nike Agunbiade claim the women's 1-Meter competition.
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After the successful weekend, swimmer Michal Chmielewskiand diver Laurent Gosselin-Paradis earned Pac-12 weekly honors.Â
Next the No. 7 ranked Women of Troy traveled north to defeat Pac-12 rival Washington State and improve to 6-0 in dual action.Â
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Most recently, the Women of Troy made history, defeating Cal and Stanford for the first time in the same season since 1996. On Friday, Feb. 2, USC downed No. 7 Cal, and followed it up Saturday, Feb. 3, with a historic win over No. 4 ranked Stanford. Both meets came down to the final relays, with freshman Minna Abraham turning in two anchor races for the ages to secure the team wins.Â
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Troy fell to No. 2 Cal and No. 5 Stanford, dropping to 0-4 in conference play.Â
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Following a huge weekend of racing, Trojans Caroline Famous and Nike Agunbiade earned Pac-12 weekly honors, capturing the swimmer and diver of the week titles, respectively.Â
MID-SEASON ADDITIONS:Â
Boasting an already talented squad, USC swimming had added two stars to their roster for the spring with the arrival of freshmen Sanberk Oktar and Charlotte 'Charlie' Hansen.Â
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Oktar hails from Instanbul, Turkey, where he was a European and World Junior Champion in the 200y individual medley and a Turkish 17-18 age group national record holder (1:59.89). The 2022 Islamic Games 200 IM silver medalist prepped at Fenerbahce and with the Zafer Sports Club. He's been on the Turkish national team for five years.Â
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Hansen, an accomplished breaststroker, is a three-time Australian School Sport Champion and Queensland State Champion. The Brisbane native prepped at the Iona Swim Club, the Rackley Swim Club and Cannon Hill Anglican College.Â
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The No. 7 Women of Troy (8-0) look to wrap their regular season undefeated, a feat that has never been done in the history of USC women's swimming and diving.Â
Â
Friday's dual will have swim results available on the Meet Mobile app and DiveMeets.com. Saturday's platform portion of the meet (not scored) will begin at 9 a.m. PT. Live results will be available on DiveMeets.com.Â
Â
USC-UCLA SeriesÂ
The Trojans hold a 31-17-1 edge against the Bruins … USC secured 10 victories in a row from 2008-17 against the Bruins and posted the first tie in the series in 2018. The 10-meet win streak - matched USC's previous best stretch of 10 in a row from 1994 to 2003 … Last year, the Women of Troy defeated the Bruins 152-148 at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center...In 2022, USC won 15 events and set eight pool records competing at the Spieker Aquatics Center, defeating the Bruins on their home turf … In 2021, the Trojans suffered a loss to the Bruins, snapping a 13-meet unbeaten streak against UCLA … In 2020, USC downed the Bruins 181-119 where the Women of Troy claimed 11 races and swept the sprint free events … In 2019 USC experienced a 181-117 victory at home, winning ten events including one relay … The schools tied 150-150 at UCLA in 2018. USC won seven events, but UCLA caught USC over the final two events to end Troy's 10-meet run … The Trojans' win in 2017 was a 172-128 home victory in which Troy set six pool records and five meet records. Preceding that was a 181-119 victory at UCLA in 2016 and a 174.5-125.5 home win in 2015 that featured five USC swimmers winning two events apiece. In 2014 in Westwood, USC won 165-135, breaking 10 Spieker Aquatics Center pool records and nine meet records in the process. USC defeated UCLA, 167.5-132.5, at USC in 2013. Troy won the 2012 clash in Westwood, 170-130, in a meet in which Trojan swimmers also broke a combined 10 Bruin pool records. That followed a 176-124 victory at USC in 2011, a 164.5-136.5 win at UCLA in 2010, a 160-140 rain-soaked 2009 home win and a 158-142 decision in Westwood in 2008. UCLA last won in 2007 when the Bruins clinched victory during the meet's final relay at McDonald's Swim Stadium. USC hasn't lost to UCLA in Westwood since 2004.Â
Â
Crosstown CupÂ
The winner of the USC-UCLA dual meet scores 10 points toward the Crosstown Cup, awarded annually to the school with the most successful athletic year against the other. Points are awarded to the winner of each Trojan-Bruin head-to-head contest (100 points is the magic number).Â
Â
SO FAR THIS SEASON:Â
In their first appearance at home this season, the Trojans captured all six 'dual' wins at the USC Invitational, taking down Hawaii, UCSB and UCSD in the process. The Women of Troy swept all four relays, with Troy also winning three of four relays (400y medley relay, 200y medley relay and 400y free relay).Â
Â
USC touched first in 11 individual events on both the men's and women's sides at the USC Invitational. Claiming 1-2-3-4 in a dominant 200y free performance was Claire Tuggle (1:45.50), Vasilissa Buinaia (1:46.07), Macky Hodges (1:47.81) and Hannah Kuechler (1:48.48). The Chmielewski twins led a 1-2 finish in the 500y free with Krzysztof (4:16.53) and Michael (4:27.36) touching first and second, respectively.
The USC women's squad opened the season with a victory on the road, capturing the SMU Classic Invitational women's team title. Troy finished third at the invite. Â
Â
In Dallas, the Trojans swept the 'Swimmer of the Meet' awards, with Justina Kozan winning on the women's side, and Chris O'Grady claiming the men's high point title.Â
Kaitlyn Dobler captured the 100y breaststroke in a pool and meet record time of 57.35, lowering her previous meet record set last year (59.09). Dobler was the lone Trojan to earn NCAA automatic bids at the meet, meeting the standard in both the 100y (57.35) and 200y breaststroke (2:05.59).Â
Â
Additionally, 16 Trojans have picked up NCAA Provisional times. On the women's side - Anicka Delgado (50y free – 22.05 / 100y free – 48.44 / 100y fly – 52.08), Justina Kozan (200y free – 1:46.14 / 400y IM – 4:03.25 / 200y fly – 1:56.55 / 100y back – 53.11 / 500y free – 4:38.47), Vasilissa Buinaia (50y free – 21.95 / 100y free – 47.40 / 200y free – 1:44.18), Claire Tuggle (100y free – 48.94 / 200y free – 1:44.54 / 500y free - 4:39.16 / 200y IM – 1:58.76 / 400y IM – 4:12.12), Minna Abraham (50y free – 22.44 / 100y free – 48.36 / 200y free – 1:41.38/ 500y free – 4:41.74 / 200y IM – 1:55.78 / 400y IM – 4:11.77), Caroline Famous (50y free – 22.34 / 100y Free – 49.78 / 100y fly – 53.47 / 100y back – 51.48 / 200y back – 1:56.04), Ella Flowers (400y IM – 4:15.74), Hannah Kuechler (200y free – 1:45.13 / 50y Free – 22.58 / 100y free – 48.78), Macky Hodges (200y back – 1:53.75 / 200y fly – 1:58.94 / 200y free – 1:45.06 / 200y IM – 1:58.07 / 400y IM – 4:12.62) and Katherine Adams (100y breast – 1:01.24 / 200y breast – 2:11.53 / 200y IM – 1:58.41). On the men's side – Artem Selin (50y free – 19.12 / 100y free – 42.94), Krzysztof Chmielewski (500y free – 4:13.84/ 100y fly – 46.56 / 200y fly – 1:41.20 / 1650y free – 14:37.74*), Chris O'Grady (200y IM – 1:45.14 / 400y IM – 3:47.73 / 100y breast – 51.53 / 200y breast – 1:52.86), Vaggelis Makyrgiannis (100y back – 46.39 / 200y back – 1:42.16 / 200y free – 1:35.79), Michal Chmielewski (100y fly – 47.00 / 200y fly – 1:42.17/ 100y back – 47.28) and Ben Dillard (100y breast – 52.58 / 200y breast – 1:52.50 / 200y IM – 1:43.24).Â
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In November, the Women of Troy opened Pac-12 competition with a pair of desert dual wins, downing No. 21 ASU and Arizona. Against No. 1 ASU and Arizona, Troy would come up short of a victory, falling to 0-2 to start the season.Â
Â
At the mid-season championship invite, USC set a batch of school records and turned in some of the top times in the country. The Women of Troy opened the meet with a statement win, claiming the 200y medley relay in a school record time of 1:34.07 as Caroline Famous, Kaitlyn Dobler, Anicka Delgado and Vasilissa Buinaia combined to take the event. USC closed out the evening with another major swim in the 800y freestyle relay, as Claire Tuggle, Buinaia, Justina Kozan and Minna Abraham posted an NCAA leading time of 6:53.54 to earn an automatic cut and claim the victory. Thursday saw senior Ben Dillard (200y IM) and the Women of Troy's 400y medley A-relay each set school records during the second day of action at the Texas Hall of Fame Swimming Invitational. Dillard, whose previous season best was a 1:47.73, dropped over four seconds to clock a 1:43.24 en route to a fourth-place finish. The third day of action was highlighted by freshman Minna Abraham's 200y freestyle school record (1:41.38) and a women's 200y freestyle relay record (Buinaia, Delgado, Dobler and Abraham – 1:27.07). The final day of action included one of the biggest swims of the season for freshman Krzysztof Chmielewski, who dominated both the 1650y freestyle and the 200y fly. Chmielewski entered the meet with the country's top time in the mile at 14:41.62, but further solidified the top spot after firing a 14:37.74 in Austin to take the event and win by a margin of 22 seconds. That time would have been good enough for fifth place at last year's NCAA meet. The Trojan rookie would later return to blast a 1:41.61 and claim the 200y fly championship final.Â
Â
After impressive performances during the month of November, Krzysztof Chmielewski and Minna Abraham each earned Pac-12 'Swimmer of the Month' honors.
Â
USC men's and women's swimming opened spring action with wins over UNLV at home on January 6. The Women of Troy swept the Rebels as Trojan Anicka Delgado contributed a pair of individual event wins en route to a Pac-12 Women's Swimmer of the Week award.Â
Â
The following weekend, the Women of Troy beat UC San Diego and Utah, while Troy handled business against the Tritons (UCSD). The same weekend, USC's diving squad claimed both team events and saw Laurent Gosselin-Paradis win on 3-Meter, Shangfei Wang win on 1-Meter and Nike Agunbiade claim the women's 1-Meter competition.
Â
After the successful weekend, swimmer Michal Chmielewskiand diver Laurent Gosselin-Paradis earned Pac-12 weekly honors.Â
Next the No. 7 ranked Women of Troy traveled north to defeat Pac-12 rival Washington State and improve to 6-0 in dual action.Â
Â
Most recently, the Women of Troy made history, defeating Cal and Stanford for the first time in the same season since 1996. On Friday, Feb. 2, USC downed No. 7 Cal, and followed it up Saturday, Feb. 3, with a historic win over No. 4 ranked Stanford. Both meets came down to the final relays, with freshman Minna Abraham turning in two anchor races for the ages to secure the team wins.Â
Â
Troy fell to No. 2 Cal and No. 5 Stanford, dropping to 0-4 in conference play.Â
Â
Following a huge weekend of racing, Trojans Caroline Famous and Nike Agunbiade earned Pac-12 weekly honors, capturing the swimmer and diver of the week titles, respectively.Â
MID-SEASON ADDITIONS:Â
Boasting an already talented squad, USC swimming had added two stars to their roster for the spring with the arrival of freshmen Sanberk Oktar and Charlotte 'Charlie' Hansen.Â
Â
Oktar hails from Instanbul, Turkey, where he was a European and World Junior Champion in the 200y individual medley and a Turkish 17-18 age group national record holder (1:59.89). The 2022 Islamic Games 200 IM silver medalist prepped at Fenerbahce and with the Zafer Sports Club. He's been on the Turkish national team for five years.Â
Â
Hansen, an accomplished breaststroker, is a three-time Australian School Sport Champion and Queensland State Champion. The Brisbane native prepped at the Iona Swim Club, the Rackley Swim Club and Cannon Hill Anglican College.Â
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