By Jordan Parry, SDA Media Relations
TEMPE, Ariz.--Seven Arizona State swimmers and divers waved their goodbyes to the Sun Devil crowd at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center for the final time Saturday afternoon after a faceoff with Arizona in which the men dropped their contest 158.5-116.5, while the women dropped theirs, 171.5-105.5.
Two senior swimmers made the most of their final home competition of their college careers in Tristin Baxter and Alex Coci, both bringing home two first-place finishes in the weekend dual meet.
Baxter took first in the 200 butterfly (1:57.55) after making a late charge to consume the lead and overcome second-place Elizabeth Pepper from Arizona. Baxter then won another exciting race in the 500 free (4:51.15), overtaking Tjasa Oder by .13 of a second.
Coci won much more comfortably than his teammate Baxter, taking the 200 butterfly (1:46.98) by over three seconds, a time good enough for a B-cut. Again making the B-cut, he placed first in the 100 butterfly (48.15).
A third Sun Devil took home two victories on the day as Barkley Perry took first in both the 200 free (22.75) and the 200 back (25.05).
Seniors recognized alongside Baxter and Coci included Jaclyn Chavez, David Adalsteinsson, Ryan Glander, Alex Palumbo and Riley McCormick.
Next up for Arizona State is the Pac-12 Championships from Federal Way, Wash. The women's swimming and diving competition will take place Feb. 27-Mar. 1, whereas the men's swimming competition will take place Mar. 5-7. Times for the events are to be determined.