SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's swimming & diving team opened their season at home on Thursday afternoon against Texas A&M and lost, 179-114 at the Barshop Natatorium. (Results)

Although the Cardinals fell short on the scoreboard it was still an outstanding opening meet for the squad in their initial foray into NCAA Division I.  Familiar faces like Evandro Silva (Guaruja, Brazil/Colegio do Carmo), Thiago Parravicini (Rio de Janiero, Brazil/C.E.L.), Andrii Nikishenko (Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine/HS of Physical Education) and Rostik Fedyna (Kiev, Ukraine/Zaperigzhya Sport) all swam well plus a few newcomers showed that they will be able to contribute right away.

The meet began with the 200 medley relay that turned into one of the best races of the day.  The Cardinals took a lead on a strong second leg breaststroke by Fedyna, but the Aggies responded in the final two legs and pulled out the victory when Kyle Troskot out-touched Silva at the wall in 1:32.08 to 1:32.40.  It was the third best relay time in school history for the Cardinals.

The Aggies took control of the meet over the next three events taking first and second in the 1000 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.  The fifth event was the 100 breaststroke and the Cardinals picked up good points with Fedyna taking first in 56.65 and Parravicini right behind him in 57.06.

The Aggies took first and second in the 200 butterfly thanks to Omar Enriquez and Hayden Duplechain, but the Cardinals showed some youthful potential.  Freshmen David Moore (San Antonio/Marshall HS) and Kaulen Applin (Houston/MacArthur HS) each swam top 10 times in school history, 1:54.67 and 1:56.73 respectively.

The Aggies dominated the 50 freestyle and the 3-meter diving to build up their lead. 

Once the teams were back in the pool, the Cardinals started to pick up the pace.  Silva took second in the 100 freestyle in a time of 47.06 and then Nikishenko won the 200 backstroke in a time of 1:50.20 to set up the best event of the meet for UIW, the 200 breaststroke.

In the 200 breaststroke the Cardinals swept the top three spots from the Aggies.  Parravicini and Fedyna took first and second swapping their spots from the 100 breaststroke.  Third place was a surprise for the Cardinals as Moore swam a great second half of the race to pass up Duplechain to take the bronze in a time of 2:10.34.

Event 13 was the 500 freestyle and Connor Hennessy made Enriquez work for the victory.  Hennessy led the race until the final 50 yards when Enriquez was finally able to pass him up to take the race.  Hennessy touched the wall in 4:37.99.

The Aggies put the meet away with their results in the 100 butterfly and 1-meter dive, but it did not stop UIW from closing the meet strong.

Moore saved his best swim for last when he crushed the competition in the 400 individual medley.  He was in fourth place after the backstroke, but catapulted to the front with a solid butterfly and outstanding breaststroke.  He swam away with the race in the final 100 freestyle to hit the wall in 4:01.93, the eighth best time in school history.

The final race of the meet was a good one despite a bunch of tired men in the 200 freestyle relay.  The Cardinals took second in a time of 1:24.52 to close it out.

The Cardinals are back in action next Friday and Saturday at the Rice Invitational.
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