White edges Red 123-117

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sophomore Alison Templin and senior Yi-Ting Siow each won two events for the Red team, but it was not enough to overcome the strength of the White squad’s overall performance that led them to a 123-117 victory over the Red in the Arkansas swimming and diving teams’ annual Red and White intrasquad meet Saturday morning.

A close meet throughout, the White squad held a one-point lead heading into the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. Whichever team took first would walk away a winner.

The White team prevailed, winning the event and the meet.

Using the meet as preparation for the season opener, Arkansas coach Jeff Poppell put together a short schedule that utilized his squad in both primary and off events. The Razorback coaching staff split the team in the annual bragging-rights exhibition.

“The girls did a fantastic job today in our Red and White event,” Poppell said. “We wanted to use it as a measurement of where we are right now, two weeks outside of our first competition. We also used it as an aid to help us make some difficult decisions about who will be traveling to our first away competition and what events they will be swimming.

“Today was a meet environment in terms of the order of events, but it was a training situation more than anything. We saw some fantastic things, and we also saw some things we need to improve on. But we expected that, and it is one of the reasons we swim this meet.”

Sophomore Jillienne Schilling gave White its first win in the 200y freestyle event followed by a first-place finish from senior Lynette Ng in the 50 freestyle. After adding victories in the 200 fly and 3-meter diving, the White still trailed by a small margin heading into the final two events. Senior Leah Pierce gave White its first lead of the day when she touched in first in the 200y breaststroke.

The Red squad actually won more individual races than its counterpart but came up just short on the scoreboard. Templin was a two-time winner for the Red team, taking victories in the 500y and 1,000y freestyle. Siow added wins in the 200y individual medley and the 100y freestyle. The Red squad opened the meet with a victory in the 200y medley relay and came out on top in 1-meter diving thanks to junior Kristen Keith. The Red also took a victory in the 200y backstroke from freshman Dannica Brennan.

The Razorbacks open the regular season with a double-dual meet at the University of Kentucky against the Wildcats and the University of the Cumberlands on Oct. 17. For more information regarding Razorback swimming and diving, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.