LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i men's and women's swim teams opened the 2024-25 season under new head coach Steve Allnutt with multiple top-five finishes at the USC Invitational on Friday at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine kicked off their season with a second place finish in the 400 medley relay with the squad of Ella Varga, Mandolin Nguyen, Eva Kovaluk and Catherine Belyakov, posting a time of 3:42.42. The relay team of Alexia Kovaluk, Eva Kovaluk, Isabelle Meraz and Zofia Tyminska got session two started by placing third in the 200 freestyle relay with a mark of 1:32.73.
In her UH debut, Belyakov made an instant impact, recording two top-10 times in Rainbow Wahine history. The transfer from Duke posted the fourth fastest time in the 400 yard IM (4.17.97) finishing in second, and posted the sixth fastest time in the 200 IM (2:00.78) placing third in the event. Belyakov secured UH's first individual victory of the season, winning the 100 backstroke with a mark of 1:02.17.
Newcomers Varga, Alexia Kovaluk and Arianna Sakellaris also made immediate impacts in their UH debuts. Varga was the runner-up in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.29. Sakellaris finished in fifth in the 500 freestyle posting a time of 5:01.24, and Alexia Kovaluk placed fourth in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:51.60.
Meraz finished the day with two top-five finishes placing fourth in the 100 fly (55.06) and fifth in the 50 freestyle (23.79).
The Rainbow Warriors placed second in the 200 freestyle relay with the team of Karol Ostrowski, Jordan Meacham, Finn Brophy and Victor Dagenais posting a time of 1:20.11. The 400 medley relay squad of Ostrowski, Timer Goldfaden, Milan Bukovics and Meacham finished in fourth with a time of 3:19.09.
Bukovics strung together a strong day, posting runner-up finishes in the 400 IM (3:52.19) and 200 IM (1:48.56). Bukovics tied for second in the 200 IM with USC's Chris O'Grady. Ostrowski recorded a second place finish in the 50 freestyle (20.08) and placed third in the 100 fly (48.81). Bukovics and Ostrowski earned the best individual performances of the day for the Rainbow Warriors.
Dagenais made his UH debut today, and recorded a third place finish in the 200 freestyle with a mark of 1:38.64. Meacham and Aleks Tomaszewski both earned fourth place finishes to open the season. Mecham placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke (56.39) and Tomaszewski placed fourth in the 100 backstroke (50.43). Adam Zdybel also made his first appearance as a Rainbow Warrior posting a fifth place finish in the 500 freestyle (4:36.28).
"The 'Bows brought great energy to our first travel competition of the season." says Allnutt. "Despite a quick turn-around from our flight yesterday and an early start this morning, we were ready to race with nearly all swims recording season best performances. In the afternoon session, we took it up another level. Many swimmers stepped up their game and we fought the Trojans much closer even taking a win in the women's 100 BR and many other very close calls. Congratulations to Catherine Belyakov put up top 10-all time performances in the 400 IM (4th) and 100 BR (10th)
UH concludes the road trip at the USC Invitational tomorrow with action beginning at 6 a.m. HT/9 a.m. PT.
#GoBows
