IRVINE, Calif. - The annual season kickoff, Green v Gold Intrasquad Meet began for the CUI swim teams on Saturday. Day 1 included a full slate of pool races at Northwood High School, and day 2 is a 1-mile open water swim at the Mission Mile on Lake Mission Viejo on Sunday. 

After one exciting day of racing, the Gold Team headed by junior Hannah Chabin and sophomore Garrison Veron hold a tight 208-194 lead over the Green team led by senior Lindsey Fruhwirth and junior Chris Haygood.  There are another 93 points at stake in the 1-mile race tomorrow with the winner taking home the crown in the Battle for the Paddle.

The Green "A" 200 medley relay of Georgia Caraway, Bella Garritano, Hailey Garcia and Nicole Tormey edged the Gold "A" of Aubrie Carver, Ellie Hardey, Ryan Burke and Alex Leland, 1:51.1 to 1:51.6.

The men's relays saw solid splits from Hunter May (27.2 breast), Jayden Hernandez (22.3 butterfly) and Chris Haygood (21.0 free). Caraway and Burke battled to the wall, tying for the win in the 100 fly at 58.55. However, Caraway came back to win the 100 back coming in at a solid 59.51.

Sophomore Jayden Hernandez made a statement in the 100 fly posting a 50.14 only 2/10th of a second off of his PCSC title winning swim last February. Double winners included Haygood (50-100 free), May (100-200 IM), and freshmen Alice Stainer (200-500 free) and Leland (50 free, 100 breaststroke).

Fellow freshmen Chance Warriner (500 free), Trevor Dixon (100 breaststroke) and sophomore transfer Landon McIntire (200 free) were all victorious in their first outings for the Golden Eagles.  

The day was capped off with a co-ed inner tube relay with six teams of 10 athletes from the CUI track and field & cross country teams hitting the water.  The "A" Gold team squad led wire-to-wire putting up 16 valuable points for Team Gold while the "C" and "B" Green relays held off a fast-charging Gold "B" relay to snatch 12 points for the Greenies. 

The 80-member Golden Eagle track and field/cross-country teams showed up decked out in corresponding green and gold attire and stood poolside for two hours cheering on their swimming counterparts! The swim & dive teams will get to return the favor at the Dec. 3 Green vs. Gold track and field meet.

The Mission Mile begins at 9am Sunday at North Beach at Lake Mission Viejo.  The Golden Eagles host the 2-day PCSC Relay Meet and Pentathlon Sep. 30 and Oct. 1 at Long Beach City College.