Swimming and diving has it all come together

Last weekend went swimmingly for Hawaii, to say the least.

The UH swimming and diving teams are coming off a program first — a sweep of the men’s and women’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federation team championships at La Miranda (swimming) and Mission Viejo (diving) in California. In swimming, the MPSF is comprised of schools who are otherwise in the Big West and West Coast Conferences.

The Rainbow Wahine beat runner-up UC Davis 781.50 to 613.50 for their third straight MPSF title and the Rainbow Warriors topped UC Santa Barbara 788.50 to 688 for their very first MPSF championship.

“I think all the girls were so excited to see all the boys so happy, because we know it kind of hurts them when they see us win and they don’t,” said women’s junior Phoebe Hines at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex soon after the team’s return to the islands. “So they got to jump in the pool and stuff like we always get to do. So we both got to do it together. That was pretty special for both of us.”

Here's junior Phoebe Hines describing what's allowed the UH women's @HawaiiSwimDive team to win three straight MPSF championships. pic.twitter.com/qPbXyygZ8O

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) February 27, 2019

UH has enjoyed frequent success under Dan Schemmel, a former swimmer at Michigan State and a five-year assistant at Wisconsin who was hired by athletic director David Matlin in 2016. The UH women have competed consistently at a high level and the men made steady gains until breaking through this year.

Schemmel saluted his team for putting in the extra time to make the smallest of gains.

“We know how much work and dedication they put forth into it. Swimming is one that, it’s a year-round sport,” he said. “You’re training 20 hours a week, 40 to 48 weeks out of the year to drop tenths of a second, to drop the length of a fingernail. So it takes a special mind-set and dedication, and we’re really proud they put it together, believe in the program and got to this point.”

The Hawaii divers were absolutely dominant, sweeping all three events (1 meter, 3 meter, platform) on both the men’s and women’s sides.

On the men’s swimming side, senior Metin Aydin made frequent trips to the podium. He won three solo events (the 100 and 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley) and was in on two relay team victories.

“We had a really long process of three years since we started out with a new coaching staff,” said Aydin, of Germany. “We kind of worked our way up. We started on the bottom, pretty much, of the MPSF conference. For the men’s team, at least; the women won straight away. But second year we got really close, we got second. And right now I think that really shows how big of a team effort it was and how great the transition of the program was.”

And senior Metin Aydin on the @hawaiiswimdive men's team breaking through for its first MPSF championship: pic.twitter.com/YbMgEN9SV9

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— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) February 27, 2019

Hines was a point magnet for the women’s squad, winning the 200, 500 and 1,650 freestyle races, as well as doing the second leg on the victorious 800 free relay team.

And lastly @HawaiiSwimDive coach Dan Schemmel on how it came together over the last few years. pic.twitter.com/T1nA3un4Iw

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) February 27, 2019

Now, the swimmers prepare for zone (regional) competition (March 11-13, Flagstaff, Ariz.) before their ultimate aspiration, nationals (March 20-23 for the women and 26-30 for the men in Austin, Texas).

Here’s the full list of UH MPSF event winners:

Men
Swimming
• 100 Backstroke (46.23)- Metin Aydin
• 200 Backstroke (1:41.02) Metin Aydin
• 200 Individual Medley (1:44.15)- Metin Aydin
• 400 Individual Medley (3:46. 81)- Talon Lindquist
• 200 Medley Relay (1:24.57)- Metin Aydin, Olli Kokko, Mateusz Chaba, Reed Wynn
• 400 Medley Relay (3:09.55)- Metin Aydin, David Springhetti, Mateusz Chaba, Reed Wynn

Diving
• One Meter- Max Burman
• Three Meter- Max Burman
• Platform- Johan Sandell

Women
Swimming
• 100 Backstroke (52.64)- Karolina Hajkova
• 100 Breaststroke (1:00.36)- Kionna Clayton
• 100 Butterfly (53.04)- Lucia Lassman
• 200 Free (1:45.68)- Phoebe Hines
• 500 Free (4:38.50)- Phoebe Hines
• 1650 Free (15:45.68)- Phoebe Hines
• 200 Medley Relay (1:38.35)- Karolina Hajkova, Kionna Clayton, Lucia Lassman, Kasey Schmidt
• 400 Medley Relay (3:37.97)- Karolina Hajkova, Kionna Clayton, Lucia Lassman, Bryndis Hansen
• 400 Free Relay (3:19.74)- Bryndis Hansen, Kasey Schmidt, Mia Tedesco, Anna Kotonen
• 800 Free Relay (7:13.59)- Silvija Djelic, Phoebe Hines, Anna Kotonen, Katie Strachan

Diving
• One Meter- Jami Stone
• Three Meter- Ivy Houser
• Platform- Victoria Moretti