Saturday, February 27
Dallas, Texas
10 a.m.
University of Houston
vs
American Athletic Conference Championships
Five-Peat: Cougars Capture Fifth Straight American Championship
2/27/2021 8:26:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
UH wins 14 total titles and sweeps relays to earn fifth straight crown
HOUSTON – The Houston Swimming and Diving team won its fifth consecutive American Athletic Championship on Saturday at the Robson and Lindley Aquatics Center in Dallas.
The Cougars tallied 1,009 team points and finished the three-day meet with nine individual championships and five relay titles. Houston's 1,009 team points are the most in The American Conference Championship's history on the women's side. SMU took second place with 753.5 points, while Cincinnati claimed third with 732.5 points.
For the fifth year in a row, Houston head coach Ryan Wochomurka was named The American's Women's Swimming Coach of the Year. Diving coach Bob Gunter was selected as the league's Co-Diving Coach of the Year. Mykenzie Leehy and Ioanna Sacha shared Swimmer of the Year honors, while Laura Garcia Marin was the league's Freshman of the Year.
In Saturday night's finals, Houston won four titles: platform diving, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay.
Leehy completed her sweep of the sprint freestyle events, taking the 100 free title with a time of 48.61. The senior's mark set a new school record as she repeated as the conference champion in the 100 free. Kathryn Power earned the silver, clocking in at 49.59. Rachel Hicks added key points in the 100 free consolation final, winning the heat with a time of 51.00.
Sacha picked up her third individual title of the week, setting a new school record in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 1:53.54. Kaley Hoffman earned the silver in the event, recording a 1:58.65, while Morgan Rosas placed fifth at 1:59.88.
In platform diving, Hedda Grelz took home the title with a five-dive score of 265.25. The freshman is third different Cougar to win the platform title at the conference meet in the last three years. Chase Farris picked up the bronze with a score of 261.60. Emilia Waters logged a five-dive score of 238.45 to place fifth, while Jolie Blodgett took sixth at 229.30.
The Cougars repeated as the 400 free relay champions for the fourth straight year as Garcia Marin, Power, Hicks and Leehy powered UH to a time of 3:18.78.
Abby Jackson capped off a strong week with a second-place finish in the 200 fly championship final, taking the silver at 1:59.40. Katie Higgins recorded a 2:01.74 to place fifth. In her second swim of the night, Rosas posted a 2:04.47 good enough for seventh.
In the 200 breast A-Final, Audrey McKinnon led the way with a 2:15.04 to earn the bronze. Hannah Farmer took third in the consolation final at 2:19.57 as Sophie Anderson placed fourth at 2:19.65.
In the first event of the night, Samantha Medlin led the way with a fifth-place finish in the 1,650 free a 16:40.79. Medlin's time marked the seventh-best time in program history. Garcia Marin took sixth at 16:50.39.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the swimming & diving team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/UHCougarSwim) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarSwim), which provide regular updates on the team and live results during home meets.
The Cougars tallied 1,009 team points and finished the three-day meet with nine individual championships and five relay titles. Houston's 1,009 team points are the most in The American Conference Championship's history on the women's side. SMU took second place with 753.5 points, while Cincinnati claimed third with 732.5 points.
For the fifth year in a row, Houston head coach Ryan Wochomurka was named The American's Women's Swimming Coach of the Year. Diving coach Bob Gunter was selected as the league's Co-Diving Coach of the Year. Mykenzie Leehy and Ioanna Sacha shared Swimmer of the Year honors, while Laura Garcia Marin was the league's Freshman of the Year.
In Saturday night's finals, Houston won four titles: platform diving, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay.
Leehy completed her sweep of the sprint freestyle events, taking the 100 free title with a time of 48.61. The senior's mark set a new school record as she repeated as the conference champion in the 100 free. Kathryn Power earned the silver, clocking in at 49.59. Rachel Hicks added key points in the 100 free consolation final, winning the heat with a time of 51.00.
Sacha picked up her third individual title of the week, setting a new school record in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 1:53.54. Kaley Hoffman earned the silver in the event, recording a 1:58.65, while Morgan Rosas placed fifth at 1:59.88.
In platform diving, Hedda Grelz took home the title with a five-dive score of 265.25. The freshman is third different Cougar to win the platform title at the conference meet in the last three years. Chase Farris picked up the bronze with a score of 261.60. Emilia Waters logged a five-dive score of 238.45 to place fifth, while Jolie Blodgett took sixth at 229.30.
The Cougars repeated as the 400 free relay champions for the fourth straight year as Garcia Marin, Power, Hicks and Leehy powered UH to a time of 3:18.78.
Abby Jackson capped off a strong week with a second-place finish in the 200 fly championship final, taking the silver at 1:59.40. Katie Higgins recorded a 2:01.74 to place fifth. In her second swim of the night, Rosas posted a 2:04.47 good enough for seventh.
In the 200 breast A-Final, Audrey McKinnon led the way with a 2:15.04 to earn the bronze. Hannah Farmer took third in the consolation final at 2:19.57 as Sophie Anderson placed fourth at 2:19.65.
In the first event of the night, Samantha Medlin led the way with a fifth-place finish in the 1,650 free a 16:40.79. Medlin's time marked the seventh-best time in program history. Garcia Marin took sixth at 16:50.39.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the swimming & diving team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/UHCougarSwim) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarSwim), which provide regular updates on the team and live results during home meets.
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