AUBURN, Ala. -- First-year coach Eric Hansen and the Arizona women’s swimming team completed the 2012 NCAA championships with a fifth-place overall finish, making it nine consecutive finishes in the national top five.
The Wildcats brought a squad of 11 athletes, each of whom contributed to the overall total. The relay teams represented in usual fashion, as each team posted a top-four finish. In addition, four individuals combined for six top-five finishes.
Arizona was one of four Pac-12 teams to finish in the top five, as California repeated as national champion, USC earned a third-place finish and Stanford finished fourth.
“Fifth place is something we can build on, and I am really proud of the effort that they put forth,” Hansen said. “I am really proud of their total body of work this year and the progress that we made.”
On Saturday, sophomore Margo Geer recorded a new school record in the 100 free, finishing in a time of 47.14 to take third place. Geer earned a team-high seven All-America honors, including two in individual races.
Sophomore Sarah Denninghoff added a fourth-place finish in the 200 back, and senior Alyssa Anderson recorded a seventh-place finish in the 200 fly in her last individual race as a Wildcat.
Arizona capped off the meet with a stellar performance in the 400 free relay that featured Geer, Anderson, junior Monica Drake and sophomore Kait Flederbach. The squad posted a fourth-place finish with a time of 3:11.57.
“I am really happy with how our women battled,” Hansen said. “We performed really well. I feel like we missed a few opportunities in the morning, but at night, no one fought harder than our women.”
Arizona’s men’s swimming team will compete in the NCAA championships March 22-24 in Federal Way, Wash.
FINAL RESULTS
200 back
4. Sarah Denninghoff – 1:52.49
100 free
3. Margo Geer – 47.14
200 fly
7. Alyssa Anderson – 155.50
400 free relay
4. Geer, Flederbach, Drake, Anderson – 3:11.57
ALL-AMERICANS
Margo Geer: 200 free relay, 50 free, 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 800 free relay, 100 free, 400 free relay
Kait Flederbach: 200 free relay, 400 free relay
Emma Darlington: 200 free relay
Aubrey Peacock: 200 free relay
Alyssa Anderson: 500 free, 200 free, 800 free relay, 200 fly, 400 free relay
Samantha Pickens: 1m, 3m
Sarah Denninghoff: 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 100 back, 800 free relay, 200 back
Ellyn Baumgardner: 400 medley relay
Lauren Smart: 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 100 back
Chelsey Salli: 200 medley relay
Monica Drake: 800 free relay, 400 free relay
FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. California, 412.5
2. Georgia, 366
3. USC, 325.5
4. Stanford, 318
5. Arizona, 299
