SALT LAKE CITY – No. 3 Stanford started its 2017-18 campaign with a 141.5-95.5 win at Utah on Friday afternoon at the Ute Natatorium.
"Today was a good challenge for our guys," said Goldman Family Director of Men's Swimming Ted Knapp, now in his sixth season in charge of the program. "They performed very well under tough circumstances, traveling to 5,000 feet and racing in the same day. Special recognition goes to the four freshman who won events in their first competition."
Stanford started the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay – Benjamin Ho, Andrew Liang, Cole Cogswell and debutant Brennan Pastorek (1:30.35) scored the first points of the meet.
Freshmen Johannes Calloni (9:22.54) and Matthew Hirschberger (9:34.47) followed it up with a one-two finish in the 1,000-yard freestyle, and Curtis Ogren (9:34.78) rounded out the podium.
Liam Egan (1:40.23) won the 200-yard freestyle by over one second, with James Murphy (1:41.41) and William Macmillan (1:41.89) rounded out the top three.
Swimming in his first collegiate meet, Alberto Mestre (20.69) won the 50-yard freestyle ahead of Andrew Liang (21.02) in second and Jordan Greenberg (21.49) in fourth.
Alex Liang (1:51.75) was the next freshman to win an event, claiming the 200-yard individual medley ahead of Benjamin Ho (1:52.23). Brad Zdroik (1:50.89) finished second in the 200-yard butterfly with the younger Liang (1:51.01) finishing third.
Cole Cogswell (46.15) tied for first place in the 100-yard freestyle before Curtis Ogren (1:48.83) claimed the 200-yard backstroke. Egan (4:34.21) won his second event of the meet in the 500-yard freestyle with Murphy (4:34.63) not far behind in second.
In his first individual swim, Pastorek (2:03.90) won the 200-yard breaststroke ahead of teammate Hank Poppe (2:05.29), and Stanford capped the meet with a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Mestre, Andrew Liang, Cogswell and Zdroik (1:22.15) represented Stanford in the 200 free relay.
On the diving side of the competition, Ted Miclau (382.57) won the 3-meter springboard, and Tarek Abdelghany (317.78) led the Cardinal on the 1-meter springboard with a second-place finish.
Stanford returns to the pool next weekend when it travels to compete in the Pacific Invitational in Stockton, California, followed by the Cardinal's annual triple-distance meet against Cal in Berkeley, California, on Nov. 8.
Five Stanford swimmers are in action this weekend at the USA College Challenge in Los Angeles. Matt Anderson, Abrahm DeVine, Sam Perry, Grant Shoults and True Sweetser will represent the Pac-12 against the United States National Team.
Pac-12 Networks will provide live coverage of both days, starting at 6 p.m. PT on Saturday night. Sunday's session will begin at 11 a.m., with both sessions slated for two hours.
