Bears rocket up leaderboard with electrifying effort on Day 2 of WAC Championships

Thursday, February 24

Houston, TX

University of Northern Colorado

WAC Championships Day 2

WAC Sports Swimming & Diving Championship Bergin

Photo by: Juan DeLeon Creative

2/24/2022 9:15:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving

RESULTS

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

HOUSTON, Texas – Don't call it a comeback!

Head coach Lisa Ebeling couldn't have asked for a better response from her team on Thursday. Two schools records, as well as gold, silver and bronze medals, highlighted an eventful evening in Houston as the Bears surged into fifth place with 159 points.

UNC entered Thursday evening with something to prove and boy did they.

Saana Liikonen kicked off the 200 free relay and with performances from Payten Irwin, Ali Jackson and Madelyn Moore, the Bears unraveled a head-turning time. Moore nearly caught GCU at the finish but hit the wall with a time of 1:30.32, a school record by over a second.

WHAT. A. RACE!!

Moore almost catches GCU but it's a school record in the 200 free relay by a whole second!!#GetUpGreeley 🐻🏊‍♀️ | #WACsd pic.twitter.com/CWhi9DuKxd
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 25, 2022

Freshman Giulia Pavanello has impressed all season long in the distance events. The Italian was the lone Bear to qualify for the A final in the 500 free, swimming a personal best Thursday evening at 4:55.94.

Zoe Gawronska and Natalie Kayfes each made the B final. Gawronska touched the wall at 5:01.15, while Kayfes came in with a time of 5:07.97. Meanwhile, Anna Austin swam her best time of the weekend in the event during the bonus finals at 5:01.42.

Katelyn Bergin led the charge for the Blue and Gold in the 200 IM. The Stockport, England native swam a 2:01.84 for a bronze medal finish.

A great swim from Katelyn Bergin gets her a bronze medal in the 200 IM#GetUpGreeley 🐻🏊‍♀️ | #WACsd pic.twitter.com/7XEumQZ1UH
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 25, 2022

Paula Nunez Blazquez also scored for the Bears, earning a place in the consolation finals and touching in at 2:05.86 to finish 11^th overall.

Northern Colorado brought the fireworks for the final swimming event of the evening in the 50 free.

Not only did Madelyn Moore break her own school record turning in a 22.17, but Moore also claimed the WAC Meet record.

Blink and you miss it!!

Another school record and a 🥇 for Maddy Moore #GetUpGreeley 🐻🏊‍♀️ | #WACsd pic.twitter.com/qSJHkuK3vL
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 25, 2022

Six other Bears made their way into the finals with Moore, Ali Jackson, Liikonen and Payten Irwin all scoring. Jackson claimed fifth with a 23.31, Liikonen followed in sixth at 23.43 and Irwin claimed 10^th with a 23.40

Bryanna Ungs (23.86) and AJ Popp (24.09) both finished well in the bonus finals.

Deck Talk
Head Coach, Lisa Ebeling
"Unbelievable efforts all around from our team today! I'm so proud of the resilience our women showed to come back after a disappointing start yesterday. We have great momentum going into some of our strongest races tomorrow and I'm excited for some more great swimming ahead."

What's next
With an exciting day two in the bag, UNC looks to continue to climb up the leaderboard on day three with the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 400 medley relay all on tap tomorrow in Houston.

To stay up to date on all things UNC Swim and Dive, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.