Houston Wins Third-Consecutive Phill Hansel

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving team posted 1, 058 points on the final day of action at the Phill Hansel Invitational, for a total of 1, 727 points and its third consecutive win at the Cougars signature home event.

The meet was highlighted by 19 NCAA B-Cut times, a multitude of lifetime bests, and the breaking of 40-year old program record. The record fell on the second day of action when Katie Higgins swam a 53.83 in the finals of the 100 Butterfly for second-place in the event. The previous record was once the American record held by former Cougar, Diane Johannigman, and was the oldest record in the Houston record book. 15 of 19 Houston records have been bested since the arrival of Head Coach Ryan Wochomurka and staff.

"It was a great week for our program," said Wochomurka. "To finish with a school record on the 400 Freestyle Relay was very fun, to see Katie Higgins break that 100 Fly record that had a lot of history for this program, meant a lot too. I think the 200 Medley Relay broke a school record too. I'm very excited about where we are at this point in the season. The challenge for us is to take the things we learned from this meet and apply them as we moved forward into the next phase of the season, which is championships season. This week is an assessment for us, and an opportunity to gauge where we are and how we need to move forward. I'm very proud of how we competed, not even just with this time or that time, but I am proud of this group. They continue to rally around each other, support one another, and compete for one another. That's what I am most proud of this weekend."

"The divers had an outstanding weekend," said Diving Coach Bob Gunter. "The 3-meter contest was an incredible show. They performed far ahead of where they have been at this time of the season in previous years. We still have a few nerves to work through, but overall I couldn't be more pleased."

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Houston began the final day of competition by sending six swimmers to the finals of the 200 Backstroke. Laura Laderoute finished with a time of 1:57.64 and finished second-overall, setting a new a lifetime best. The time marks the second-best time in program history. In the finals. Laderoute bested her previous lifetime best that was set in prelims and finished first in the event at 1:56.40, followed by Koutsouveli in fourth at 1:57.65.
A pair of NCAA B-Cuts from Zarena Brown and Mykenzie Leehy highlighted the 100 Freestyle. Brown finished first at 49.22, followed by Leehy in second at 49.48. The time marked a lifetime best for Leehy and the third-best time in program history. All nine Cougars advanced to the finals in the event where the duo posted two of the fastest times in program history for first and second-place. Brown finished at 49.06 and Leehy finished at 49.23.
Peyton Kondis posted a lifetime best 2:11.81 in the 200 Breaststroke for first-place in prelims. The time is the second-best time in program history and an NCAA B-Cut. Three other Cougars also advanced to the finals where, Kondis bested her previous time and finished at 2:11.78 for the second-best time at Houston. Mavrantza rounded out the top-three at 2:11.84.
With the fourth-best time in Houston history, Katie Higgins post a lifetime best 1:59.47 for first-place in the 200 Butterfly. Six Cougars advanced to finals where Brandt finished second for the Cougars at 2:00.10. Higgins finished fourth at 2:01.09.
Haley Benjamin led the Cougars in the 1650 Freestyle with a lifetime best and fourth-best time in Houston history at 16:35.16. All Houston competitors finished in the top-22.
In the final event of the weekend, Houston finished 3:18.30 in the 400 Freestyle Relay for a second-place finish. The time marks a new program-record.
On the boards, Katie Deininger and Jaylynn Whitt placed second and third in the Platform to advance to finals where the duo each finished in the top-five. Deininger finished first with 246.85 points, Whitt closed out the day in fifth-place with 183.00 points.

HOUSTON FINISHES

200 BACKSTROKE
1. Laura Laderoute – 1:56.40
4. Eleanna Koutsouveli - 1:56.86
10. Monique Rae – 2:01.00
11. Kaley Hoffmann- 2:01.26
12. Katie Power – 2:01.61
16. Reese Lamph – 2:11.77

100 FREESTYLE
1. Zarena Brown – 49.06
2. Mykenzie Leehy – 49.23
11. Samantha Medlin – 50.98
12. Kylie Andrews – 51.05
13. Julie Gibson – 51.21
20. Hannah Middleton – 51.32
21. Rachel Hicks – 51.40
23. Hanna Blewett – 51.94

200 BREASTSTROKE
1. Peyton Kondis – 2:11.78
3. Angeliki Mavranztza – 2:11.84
17. Gaby Jimenez – 2:16.78
27. Hannah Esopenko – 2:24.56

200 BUTTERFLY
2. Rebecca Brandt – 2:00.10
4. Katie Higgins – 2:01.09
10. Morgan Rosas – 2:02.04
16. Isabel Tank – 2:02.48
21. Shayla Erickson – 2:06.63
27. Victoria Tillman – 2:05.47

1650 FREE
3. Haley Benjamin – 16:35.16
11. Reese Lamph - 16:56.91
16: Conor Glenn 17:05.18
22. Shayla Erickson – 17:20.60

400 FREESTYLE RELAY
1. Leehy, Laderoute, Andrews, Brown – 3:18.30

PLATFORM
1. Katie Deininger – 246.85
5. Jaylynn Whitt – 183.00

WHO IS PHILL HANSEL
From 1975-1996, Hansel was the most influential man for the University of Houston swimming and diving team. He guided the Cougars to more than 70 dual meet victories and ten Top 20 finishes at the AIAW and NCAA Championships. All of that hard work paid off, as Phill Hansel was inducted into the Hall of Honor on Nov. 14, 2008. In 1996, Hansel finished out the season with over 39 years of coaching experience and was recognized as one of the most successful collegiate swim coaches in the nation.
In his honor, the University of Houston will host the Phill Hansel Invitational every fall. The event will take place this season from Nov. 16-18 at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.

WHERE TO WATCH
Meet information including teams, event schedule, parking, and meet results can be found by clicking HERE.

UP NEXT
Houston will return to action after the New Year on Jan. 19 when it visits Arkansas.

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Players Mentioned

Kylie Andrews

Haley Benjamin

Hanna Blewett

Rebecca Brandt

Zarena Brown

Katie Deininger

Shayla Erickson

Hannah Esopenko

Julie Gibson

Conor Glenn

Rachel Hicks

Katie Higgins

Kaley Hoffman

Gaby Jimenez

Peyton Kondis

Eleanna Koutsouveli

Laura Laderoute

Reese Lamph

Mykenzie Leehy

Samantha Medlin

Hannah Middleton

Monique Rae

Morgan Rosas

Isabel Tank

Victoria Tillman

Jaylynn Whitt

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