by Greg MacDonald
Sports Editor
Although the University of La Verne swim team held – and won – its first home meet last Saturday, the Leopards wanted to instead brag about their trees they planted to inaugurate the first home meet.
“With this being our inaugural meet, I thought about what type of thing we should do,” ULV head coach John Hallman said. “I was trying to think of what could signify us. And I said, ‘Why not a tree? Why not two trees, one that signifies the men’s team and one that signifies the women’s team.’
“We were fortunate that [President Stephen] Morgan took the time to come out, and [Assistant Athletic Director] Rex Huigens and [Athletic Director] Jim Paschal were there also. It actually turned out a lot better than I thought. We had the whole 9 yards — gold shovels, the whole thing.”
With the ceremony out of the way, the Leopards took care of business in the pool.
The competition for both the men’s and women’s teams featured Whittier College and Biola University. On the men’s side, the Leopards defeated Biola, 123-68, and Whittier, 105-86. The women’s team also completed the sweep against the two foes, with a 133-89 win over Biola and held a 177-29 advantage over Whittier.
Freshmen John Chon and Ryan MacDonald again led the men’s side, which was larger than its first meet and two invitationals because some of the water polo players joined the squad after their season.
Chon took first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.78 seconds. MacDonald took first in the 200 individual medley with a 2:08.5 mark. He was also first in the 100 breast. Freshman Jace Crispin finished first in the 200 free and the 100 free for the Leopards.
Freshmen Kathryn Aimone and Tandis Morgan paced the women’s team. Aimone swam first in the 200 free (2:02.82) and the 100 free (56.47). Morgan was first in the 50 free (25.15) and the 100 backstroke (1:03.9).
“The conference has kind of gone, ‘whoa,’ ” Hallman said. “They thought La Verne was going to be this small team the first couple years, but thanks to Tim [Hugar, water polo coach] and I, things are going real well.”
