TicketsDALLAS, Texas— Freshman Joleigh Crye (100 Breast), junior Hunter Gubeno (100 Back) and senior Michael Balcerak (100 Fly) each claimed American Athletic Conference titles on day five of the AAC Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday.
The Bearcats have earned 15 medals, seven on day five, as the men's team sits second in the team standings with 772 points, while the UC women moved to fifth with 586 points.
"Tonight was incredible," head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle said. "I thought we had a solid morning swim and then tonight we had time improvements, personal bests, some school records, and a meet record. It was fantastic."
Crye had a day to remember as she broke the AAC Championship meet record and Cincinnati record in the women's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.07. Crye best her previous school record time of 59.57 to claim her first AAC title. Her time currently ranks 14th in the NCAA and is a 'B' standard time.
Crye was also the only Bearcat to appear in multiple individual finals as she placed sixth overall in the women's 100-yard butterfly with a time of 53.88. Her time is a personal best mark and is the sixth fastest time in program history.
Gubeno followed up his record-setting performance on day four, with an AAC 100-yard backstroke title on day five inside the Robson and Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium. Gubeno swam a 47.64 in the men's 100-yard backstroke to claim his first individual gold medal of his career.
On day four the Howell, Michigan native won a bronze in the men's 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:45.16, breaking the Cincinnati program record. He originally broke the record in the preliminary round with a time of 1:45.16 and then re-broke it in the finals. His finals time is also a NCAA 'B' Standard qualifying time.
Balcerak earned his second 2023 AAC Conference title as he won the men's 100-yard butterfly with a time of 46.72. This is the second time in his career that he has won the 100-yard crown after winning the title in 2021. Balcerak is now one of the most decorated AAC Championship athletes as he has now won eight individual gold medals across four events in his career.
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native's butterfly time is a NCAA 'B' standard time, his second 'B' standard time of the meet after swimming a 4:20.65 on the 500-yard freestyle.
Freshman Lily Jones broke the Cincinnati 100-yard backstroke record with a time of 54.34 in the preliminary round, then re-broke the record in the finals with a time of 54.24 to claim a bronze medal in the event. The UC record was previously held by fellow freshman Grace Gavin, who also competed in the 100-yard backstroke finals. Gavin finished one-tenth of a second behind Jones, placing fourth with a time of 54.25, the second fastest time in school history.
Both seniors Calvin Coetzee and Spencer Sehlhorst earned bronze medals in their respective events. Sehlhorst placed third in the men's 400-yard IM with an NCAA 'B' standard time of 3:48.54. Coetzee's medal came in the 200-yard freestyle as he recorded a time of 1:37.64.
Sophomore Annabelle Young swam the second-fastest women's 400-yard individual medley in school history with a time of 4:17.66 as she placed ninth overall in the event.
To close out day five, the men's 400-yard medley relay team of juniors Drew Harris, Drew Hawthorne, freshman Brogan Robinson and Michael Balcerak placed second overall with a time of 3:12.84, the second fastest time in program history.
// UP NEXT
The final day of competition at the AAC Championships will begin at 11 a.m. and consist of the men's and women's 200-yard backstroke,100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breast, and 200-yard butterfly. Finals begin at 6 p.m. ET and will and will also feature the 400-yard freestyle relays. All events will be streamed on ESPN+.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
To stay up to date with the latest swimming and diving news, photos and videos, follow the teams on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim).
// TEAM STANDINGS- Through Day 5
Men
1. Southern Methodist 899
2. Cincinnati-772
Women
1. Houston 972
2. Florida International (FIU)- 957
3. Southern Methodist- 863
4. Rice- 789
5. Cincinnati- 586
6. East Carolina- 505
7. Florida Atlantic (FAU)- 417
8. North Texas- 364
9. Tulane- 283
The Bearcats have earned 15 medals, seven on day five, as the men's team sits second in the team standings with 772 points, while the UC women moved to fifth with 586 points.
"Tonight was incredible," head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle said. "I thought we had a solid morning swim and then tonight we had time improvements, personal bests, some school records, and a meet record. It was fantastic."
Crye had a day to remember as she broke the AAC Championship meet record and Cincinnati record in the women's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.07. Crye best her previous school record time of 59.57 to claim her first AAC title. Her time currently ranks 14th in the NCAA and is a 'B' standard time.
Crye was also the only Bearcat to appear in multiple individual finals as she placed sixth overall in the women's 100-yard butterfly with a time of 53.88. Her time is a personal best mark and is the sixth fastest time in program history.
Gubeno followed up his record-setting performance on day four, with an AAC 100-yard backstroke title on day five inside the Robson and Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium. Gubeno swam a 47.64 in the men's 100-yard backstroke to claim his first individual gold medal of his career.
On day four the Howell, Michigan native won a bronze in the men's 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:45.16, breaking the Cincinnati program record. He originally broke the record in the preliminary round with a time of 1:45.16 and then re-broke it in the finals. His finals time is also a NCAA 'B' Standard qualifying time.
Balcerak earned his second 2023 AAC Conference title as he won the men's 100-yard butterfly with a time of 46.72. This is the second time in his career that he has won the 100-yard crown after winning the title in 2021. Balcerak is now one of the most decorated AAC Championship athletes as he has now won eight individual gold medals across four events in his career.
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native's butterfly time is a NCAA 'B' standard time, his second 'B' standard time of the meet after swimming a 4:20.65 on the 500-yard freestyle.
Freshman Lily Jones broke the Cincinnati 100-yard backstroke record with a time of 54.34 in the preliminary round, then re-broke the record in the finals with a time of 54.24 to claim a bronze medal in the event. The UC record was previously held by fellow freshman Grace Gavin, who also competed in the 100-yard backstroke finals. Gavin finished one-tenth of a second behind Jones, placing fourth with a time of 54.25, the second fastest time in school history.
Both seniors Calvin Coetzee and Spencer Sehlhorst earned bronze medals in their respective events. Sehlhorst placed third in the men's 400-yard IM with an NCAA 'B' standard time of 3:48.54. Coetzee's medal came in the 200-yard freestyle as he recorded a time of 1:37.64.
Sophomore Annabelle Young swam the second-fastest women's 400-yard individual medley in school history with a time of 4:17.66 as she placed ninth overall in the event.
To close out day five, the men's 400-yard medley relay team of juniors Drew Harris, Drew Hawthorne, freshman Brogan Robinson and Michael Balcerak placed second overall with a time of 3:12.84, the second fastest time in program history.
// UP NEXT
The final day of competition at the AAC Championships will begin at 11 a.m. and consist of the men's and women's 200-yard backstroke,100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breast, and 200-yard butterfly. Finals begin at 6 p.m. ET and will and will also feature the 400-yard freestyle relays. All events will be streamed on ESPN+.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
To stay up to date with the latest swimming and diving news, photos and videos, follow the teams on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim).
// TEAM STANDINGS- Through Day 5
Men
1. Southern Methodist 899
2. Cincinnati-772
Women
1. Houston 972
2. Florida International (FIU)- 957
3. Southern Methodist- 863
4. Rice- 789
5. Cincinnati- 586
6. East Carolina- 505
7. Florida Atlantic (FAU)- 417
8. North Texas- 364
9. Tulane- 283