NEW ORLEANS - The North Texas swimming and diving team entered Tulane's Reily Center Natatorium having won the previous five meetings with the Green Wave. But - like any good streak - the winning had to stop eventually. The Mean Green simply weren't enough to take down Tulane on Saturday, losing 188-112.
In usual fashion, senior Krista Rossum was the highlight of the day for North Texas. Rossum accounted for more than half of the team's five wins as she took gold in the 200 freestyle (1:52.52), 200 breaststroke (2:18.41) and 200 IM (2:04.36).
The team's remaining first-place finishes came in the form of distance events. Senior Jessica Rodriguez claimed the first win of her collegiate swimming career on Saturday, taking the 500 freestyle in a time of 5:06.64. Freshman Barbara Wasilewska added to her list of impressive distance times by notching a win of her own in the 1000 freestyle (10:28.54).
North Texas now prepares for a matchup with TCU. The meet is set to start at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, from Fort Worth, Texas.
Watch the video below to hear more about head coach Brendon Bray's thoughts following Saturday's meet.
Quick Hits
The loss marks the first time that North Texas has fallen to Tulane in a dual meet since the 2004-05 season. The Mean Green is now 5-3 all-time against the Green Wave.
In her first action with the team since returning from winter training camp in Germany, senior Mona Groteguth took second in both backstroke events. It is the first time this season that Groteguth has missed a gold finish in a dual meet.
Saturday's meet was the first time that freshman Sarah Vaisse raced in a Mean Green uniform. The former French youth champion joined the team over the winter break after gaining eligibility. Vaisse took third in the 100 breast and fourth in the 200 breast.
