Sept. 19, 2008

With Trojan Olympic medalists watching and one even swimming, the 2008-2009 USC men's and women's swimming and diving season kicked off with a "down-to-the-last-heat" 267-258 Gold-over-Cardinal victory in the Cardinal and Gold Intrasquad on Friday (Sept. 19) at the USC McDonald's Swim Stadium.

The day's action began in the diving well where freshman Tori Ishimatsu (Gold) and freshman Harrison Jones (Cardinal) got their teams off to wins on one-meter springboard.

After the teams split the 200y medley relay, sophomore Ellie Doran and freshman Brent Hitchcock both secured Gold wins in the 1000y free (all times were unofficial on the day).

The Cardinal came back to sweep the 200y free thanks to freshman Katinka Hosszu and junior Zoltan Povazsay, both of whom hail from Hungary. Hosszu, a 2008 Olympian, won four races on the day.

Continuing the streak for the Cardinal were junior Whitney Stephenson and sophomore Jake Grosser, who each won in the 100y backstroke.

Senior Rebecca Soni, in her first "competitive" swim since winning one gold and two silver medals at the 2008 Olympics, easily won the 100y breast for the Cardinal while senior Kevin Bartell took first in the event on the men's side for Gold.

The Cardinal came back to sweep the 200y fly, Hosszu winning again on the women's side and freshman Josh Joiner coming through in the men's heat. It was Cardinal again in the 50y free as senior Kristen Lahey and Grosser each posted wins.

Senior Rachael Waller represented the Gold well by winning the 100y free, a win offset by Luke Tanner's Cardinal victory in the event on the men's side.

Gold then swept the 200y back with freshman Ania Kowalczyk and junior James Martin each touching first.

Soni came back to win the 200y breast for the Cardinal while freshman Will Orlady won it for the Gold. Gold sophomore Krissy Forelli won the women's 500y free while Gold frosh Brent Hitchcock did the same on the men's side.

Hosszu won the women's 100y fly for Cardinal while senior Ankur Poseria won the men's race for Gold. Hosszu came right back to win the women's 200y IM for Cardinal while Martin won his second race for Gold on the men's side.

It came down to the mixed 200y free relay, with Gold out-touching Cardinal for the win and bragging rights.