Friday Results | Saturday Results 

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks swim team suffered a heartbreaking sweep to the Azusa Pacific Cougars in their season-opening meets on Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Patty Center Pool. Alaska fell 107-98 on Friday before dropping Saturday's contest 106-99.

Friday, October 20 (written by Scott Lemley)
On Friday, the swimming women of UAF started the 2017-18 campaign with a highly contested meet against natural conference rival, Azusa Pacific University. The seesaw scoring throughout the evening reflected two very evenly matched teams. The final event began with the lead-off relay swimmers stepping up to the blocks with the teams tied 94-94. APU prevailed in the 200 freestyle relay and the Nanooks dropped their season opener 107-98. In the first event of the meet, the 400-yard medley relay, the Nanooks had won in convincing fashion posting a 3:58.40, which currently ranks Alaska as having the 10th fastest time in the nation.

Several Nanook swimmers posted outstanding times in the meet led by freshman Oda Bygdnes, who won the 100-yard butterfly in a blistering 57.73. That swim moves her right into the No. 7 spot on the Nanooks' All-Time Top-10 list, a very auspicious beginning for her first-ever college race. Even more impressive is this time now ranks her as the sixth-fastest butterfly racer in the nation.

Another Nanook having an outstanding meet was sophomore Claire McElroy, who dropped nearly six seconds from her lifetime-best in the 100-yard freestyle, posting a time of 56.98. Earlier in the 400-yard medley relay. Her 1:07.50 was nearly a second under her personal-best for the 100-yard breaststroke.

Saturday, October 21
In another hotly contested battle, the Nanooks fell victim to the Cougars 107-98 at the Patty Center Pool. Alaska started off the day with a victory, as the 400-yard medley relay team of freshman Erika Kakazu, junior Kate Mathews, freshman Oda Bygdnes and senior Katie Stark posted a first place finish with a  time of 3:58.40 for 11 points.

The Nanooks swept the third and fourth events, respectively, with Stark winning the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:57.88, while senior Martha Hood placed first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.55.  Bygdnes won her second event of the day, being the only swimmer to post a sub-one minute time in the 100-yard butterfly (57.73), while Hood tallied another victory on the day in the 100-yard backstroke (59.31).

Mathews was the last individual winner of the day, placing first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:08.54.

The Alaska Nanooks will return to their home pool for another two-meet series hosting the Dixie State Trailblazers Nov. 3 and 4.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks swim team, follow @NanooksSwim on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Swimming team page on Facebook.