ST. CHARLES, MO - The Saint Louis swimming and diving team competed in the Lindenwood Invitational against William Jewell, Lindenwood and Missouri S&T. The women were the top team finishers, picking up wins over William Jewell and Lindenwood. The men's squad posted great times, picking up a win over William Jewell, but losing contests against Lindenwood and Missouri S&T, who only competed with the men.
After the Invitational, the women have a dual meet record of 6-2 and the men are 4-4.
Junior diver Christiana Eltiste opened the meet on the boards for the Billikens. Eltiste won the one-meter board with a score of 197.80. She also finished second on the three-meter with a score of 225.30. For the men, Ethan Paster was the top diver, finishing second on the one-meter (202.30) and third on the three-meter (183.10).
The women's team dominated the swimming events, winning nine of the 11 swimming events. The SLU quad of Taylor Streid, Melanie Battaglia, Jalynn Gieseke and Emily Kopec won the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 4:06.52. Streid also took top the top spot in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.00) and 200-yard backstroke (2:07.63). Newcomer Morgan Peterson also won her events, taking home first in the 200-yard individual medley (2:10.38), 200-yard butterfly (2:11.70) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:27.07). A pair of freshmen won their individual events with Julia Herbig winning the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.29 and Abby King touching the wall at 5:17.05 in the 500-yard freestyle. To cap off an impressive meet, the Billikens won the 400-yard freestyle relay with Lizzy Ostermann, Herbig, Kopec and King finishing at 3:43.70.
On the men's side, freshman Brendan Hulseman won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:42.17. Zack Billingsley touched the wall at 21.27 in the 50-yard freestyle to take home top honors. The men also won the 400-yard freestyle relay, an event which is becoming a strong suit for Saint Louis. The squad of Patrick May, Hulseman, Patrick MacArt and Billingsley came in with a time of 3:07.99. The men have yet to lose the 400-yard freestyle this season, and are the reigning Atlantic 10 champions in the event.
Next up for the Billikens will be Mizzou Invite on Nov. 29 through Dec. 1.
