FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks swimming team hosts its first home meets of the season this week, taking on Azusa Pacific in a pair of PCSC dual meets on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Both meets will be livestreamed for free on the GNAC Network, and live timing will be available on Swimcloud.
Friday, Oct. 16
vs. Azusa Pacific | 5 p.m.
Patty Center Pool | Fairbanks
Saturday, Oct. 17 - Go Pink with the 'Nooks
vs. Azusa Pacific | 10 a.m.
Patty Center Pool | Fairbanks
Watch (Free) | Live Timing
Last Time Out
The Nanooks began their season in California last week with a dual meet against PCSC opponent Biola on Friday, Oct. 9, followed by a trip to the University of Redlands on Saturday, Oct. 10, for the Bulldog Pentathlon.
The 'Nooks won their dual meet against the Eagles on Friday, earning a 103-102 win. Zsófia Varga (10:52.72, 1000-yard freestyle), Zhenia Stukova (1:57.25, 200-yard freestyle), Marilia Persidou (2:10.39, 200-yard butterfly) and Kitti Marton (5:24.12, 500-yard freestyle) each won one individual event, while Dorka Dancsok won both the 400-yard IM (4:40.37) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:26.83). The meet came down to the final event of the day: the 200-yard freestyle relay, where the team of Monica Botha, Cosima Schmiedel, Sam Bristor and Giorgia Merlo placed first with a 1:39.94 to give the 'Nooks the win.
The Blue and Gold followed that up by placing second at the Bulldog Pentathlon, recording 240 points. Alaska won four of five events at the meet: Persidou won the 100-yard butterfly (59.40), Dancsok won the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.44), Botha won the 100-yard freestyle (54.29) and Schmiedel won the 100-yard IM (1:02.09).
Meet the Opponent
Azusa Pacific Cougars
The Cougars began their season last Saturday at the Rodionoff Invitational in Malibu, Calif., finishing third out of five teams in the Division III Division with 129 points. After finishing fourth at last season's PCSC Championships with 1027 points, they sent two swimmers to the 2026 NCAA DII Swimming and Diving Championships. Angelica Benitez placed 37th in the 200-yard IM (2:07.35) and 27th in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:07.66). Meanwhile, Aleena Herrera placed 22nd in the 400-yard IM (4:28.24) and 26th in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:18.67).
#NookNotes
- The Nanooks lead the PCSC with 544.95 points through the opening week, ahead of second-place Biola by 1.2 points.
- Freshmen Monica Botha (54.29) and Zhenia Stukova (54.88) rank fifth and eighth in the PCSC in the 100-yard freestyle. Stukova is second in the conference in the 200-yard freestyle with a 1:57.25, while Giorgia Merlo sits eighth with a 1:59.87.
- Zsófia Varga (10:52.72) and Kitti Marton (10:53.51) are second and third in the PCSC in the 1000-yard freestyle, while Marton ranks seventh in the 500-yard freestyle with a 5:24.12.
- Dorka Dancsok (1:07.44) and Cosima Schmiedel (1:07.63) have the second and third-best conference times in the 100-yard breaststroke. Dancsok also ranks second in the 200-yard breaststroke with a 2:26.83 and leads the PCSC in the 400-yard IM with a 4:40.37. Schmiedel leads in the 100-yard IM with a 1:02.09, while Botha (1:02.72) and Dancsok (1:02.83) rank third and fourth.
- Marilia Persidou sits fifth among PCSC swimmers in the 100-yard butterfly after posting a 59.40 at the Bulldog Pentathlon. She also leads the conference in the 200-yard butterfly with a 2:10.39, while Schmiedel (2:11.43) and Varga (2:13.85) are right behind her in second and fourth.
Go Pink with the 'Nooks
The Nanooks will be wearing new pink swimsuits on Saturday as part of their Go Pink with the 'Nooks meet. They invite fans to join them in wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness.
Looking Ahead
The Nanooks have a three-week break after this week's meets, returning to action on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a double-dual against Seattle University and Pacific University at the Redhawk Center in Seattle, Wash.
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