RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The CUI swim and dive teams gained good experience while competing in the CBU Lancers Winter Invitational over the weekend with a number of eye-opening performances.

The Eagles got the chance to measure up against multiple NCAA Division I schools along with trying off-events which allowed our athletes to try new things before going home for Christmas break.

Senior Kyle Benjamin and freshman Ryan Burke were the standouts for CUI. Swimming in the 400 IM, Benjamin came in second and made the NCAA "B" cut. Running in fifth place at the 200 yard mark, the Arizona native stormed back with a great finish to claim second-place after the breaststroke by winning his heat in the last 50 yards.  Benjamin also finished third in the 200 IM and in fourth place in the 200 backstroke while also nabbing a pair of top ten finishes in the 200 fly (ninth) and 100 breast (tenth).

Burke also claimed a NCAA "B" cut in the 200 fly for the first time in her career.  The Chapparal High School alum set a personal record (PR) in her 200 fly where she clocked in at 2:05.06. Not only was this time a PR for Burke, it was the second-fastest time in school history as well!

On the men's side, senior Austin Wade also set a PR in the 1-meter diving event. This was Wade's first diving competition since conference championships. Fellow CUI senior Andrew Dimino, fresh off his stellar water polo season in the fall, posted a solid 48.19 in the 100 freestyle.

This weekend's invitational for senior Katelyn Thomas also marked her final meet as a CUI Eagle. As her collegiate career comes to an end, the impact Thomas has made on the CUI swim and dive team will last forever. She leaves as the first female NCAA All-American in CUI history with a ton of accolades including school records (3), all-time top-10 finishes in individual and relay events (16), a PCSC title, and CSCAA Academic All-American honors (twice).  She traveled to the NCAA DII Swim and Dive Championships each of the past three seasons, becoming the first CUI Eagles to do that in our school's NCAA DII era.  In fact, her and Benjamin both made it to the NCAA Championships together as true freshmen three seasons ago. 

"Katelyn is a four-year, seven-time NCAA qualifier and one of the most committed and determined Eagles we've ever had in the pool here," said CUI head coach Bert Bergen. "Katelyn's shadow is long and she will be missed and remembered for a long time here. We wish her well on her semester abroad in Ireland and know that she will do great things in the future."

Thomas most recently set the school record in the 100 backstroke (which she set in March 2021 when she was named the PCSC Athlete of the Week). In addition, Thomas is a member of the 4x100 medley relay team that set the school record in 2019 and has been named All-Conference a combined 10 times for her performances over the course of her CUI career.

There were a ton of notable swims on the men's side including Alberto Cortes, who broke into the top ten in the 50 free with an eighth place finish. Additional highlights from the Green and Gold featured Jon Sutherlin (500 free, 13th), Thatcher Grooms (100 IM, 12th), newcomer Hunter May (200 breast, 12th; 100 IM, 14th), Armando Cadena Padilla (200 breast, 14th), Kyle Stocek (200 free, 13th), Jack Harris (100 breast, 11th; 100 IM, 13th), Ryan Martines (100 breast, 12th), and Jayden Hernandez (100 back, 13th).  

CUI will be in action next on Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Woollett Aquatics Center when the Eagles host the Orange County Invitational.
 
CLICK HERE for the full CUI swim and dive schedule