Season Starts at Malibu Invitational

MALIBU, Calif. – The Cal Lutheran women’s swimming and diving team performed well during their season opener on Friday and Saturday at the Malibu Invitational hosted by Pepperdine.

Sheyenne Machida started off her senior campaign right where her junior season ended, earning a trip to the podium. On Friday afternoon, Machida earned the top spot on the one-meter diving boards with a score of 203.15 as the only athlete to surpass the 200-point plateau. In her first meet for CLU, Tianna Pasko recorded a 169.65. On the three-meter board, Machida placed fifth with a 181.05 while Pasco put up a 146.30.

Saturday between the lanes everyone contributed solid swims for the Regals, lining up for at least two races apiece.

Competing in the Violet and Gold for the first time, Annika Stenfjord led the Regals in both the 200 freestyle (2:04.32) and 200 Individual Medley (2:22.47) to finish 12^th overall. Stenfjord swam three other events, finishing sixth in the 50 backstroke (31.12), rounding out her day with the 50 butterfly (30.42) and 50 free (27.06).

Emily Borchard and Briana Johnston also swam for the Violet and Gold for the first time today. In the morning Borchard went a 2:10.49 in the 200 free and came back to swim the 50 fly (32.99), 50 breast (36.82), 50 free (27.92), 100 free (1:01.78) and 200 IM (2:35.31). Johnston swam the 50 fly (37.61), 50 breast (46.96) and 50 free (32.13).

Kicking off her senior season Shelby Brooks recorded a 200 backstroke time of 2:16.78 as the top Division III swimmer to the wall. Mimi Harbach swam a 2:24.12 and Stephanie Yu turned in a time of 2:31.43.

Brooks followed up with fourth and ninth place finishes in the 50 back (30.07) and 100 back (1:04.49). She rounded out her day in the 50 free (27.66), 100 free (1:01.04) and 200 IM (2:25.00).  Harbach went on to swim three other events.

As the second Division III finished in the 200 breaststroke, Kelli Miller recorded a time of 2:33.74. Alvina Wong also swam the race, finishing in 2:42.38.  Miller was ninth and tenth in the 50 breast and 100 breast in 33.15 and 1:12.17, respectively.

Stepping back up on the blocks for CLU in the 200 free were Juliana Rios (2:05.49), Katie Kochalko (2:05.83), Sarah Forsythe (2:09.93) and Taylor Faust (2:11.14). Rios was the top CLU finisher in both the 50 fly (28.24) and 100 free (57.62), while Kochalko was the first Regals swimmer to the wall in the 100 fly and Forsyth was the first Cal Lutheran athlete to finish the 50 free (25.95)

Also suiting up for CLU today was Katrina Brown.  

Cal Lutheran divers will be back on the boards in three weeks when the Regals travel to Redlands for the Bulldog Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 16. Competition is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.

Results: Malibu Invitaiotnal
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