TUCSON, ARIZ. — The Arizona Women's Swimming & Diving team rang in the New Year with a 162.5 - 80.5 victory over in-state rival NAU at Hillenbrand Aquatics Center on Friday, Jan. 3. 

The meet was marked by impressive performances from across the squad, including first-place finishes in both relays and a sweep of the podium in the 50 Free and 100 Free events. Junior Malia Rausch had a strong showing Friday, earning the top spot in the 200 Free (1:52.06) and the 500 Free (5:03.12). Alyssa Schwengel also contributed some standout swims to bolster the Wildcats' score, finishing first in the 100 Free (50.43) in addition to being a part of two first place relay teams in the 400 Medley Relay and the 200 Free Relay. 

On the diving side, Zara Ayazi tallied 9 points for the Cats with her first place finish in the 1m event (286.73). Senior Brooke Earley finished second in the 1m (265.20) and third in the 3m (250.95), earning 6.5 points for the Cats. Maria Colombo took home second in the 3m (251.03), just behind NAU's Mackenna Stocker. 

The Cats earned the top spot in all but three events and ended the meet with a total of 10 first place finishes, 10 second place finishes and six third place finishes.

Top-Three Finishes

First Place:

• 400 Medley Relay, Arizona "A" Relay, 3:44.25 (Paige Armstrong, Eleni Gewalt, Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhangh, Alyssa Schwengel)

• 1000 Free, Ava Sutphin (10:24.52)

• 200 Free, Malia Rausch (1:52.06)

• 50 Free, Lexi Duchsherer (23.27)

• 200 IM, Julia Wozniak (2:05.85)

• 1m, Zara Ayazi (286.73)

• 100 Free, Alyssa Schwengel (50.43)

• 200 Back, Kayman Neal (2:00.80)

• 500 Free, Malia Rausch (5:03.12)

• 200 Free Relay, Arizona "A" Relay, 1:32.09, (Julia Wozniak, Alyssa Schwengel, Lexi Duchsherer, Riley Botton)
   

Second Place:

• 400 Medley Relay, Arizona "B" Relay, 3:47.87 (Lila Lillie, Maddy Ahluwalia, Emma Kinsey, Lexi Duchsherer)

• 200 Free, Kayman Neal (1:52.38)

• 50 Free, Riley Botton (23.36)

• 200 IM, Kelsey Wasikowski (2:07.74)

• 1m, Brooke Earley (265.20)

• 200 Fly, Claire Christie (2:06.84)

• 100 Free, Julia Wozniak (51.37)

• 3m, Maria Colombo (251.03)

• 200 BR, Kelsey Wasikowski (2:21.20)

• 200 Free Relay, Arizona "B" Relay, 1:32.09 (Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhangh, Meric Demirtepe, Eleni Gewalt, Amalie Mortensen)
   

Third Place:

• 50 Free, Julia Urbanowski (24.19)

• 100 Free, Riley Botton (51.46)

• 200 Back, Magda Hagsten Skarda (2:06.49)

• 500 Free, Ava Sutphin (5:11.41)

• 3m, Brooke Earley (250.95)

• 200 BR, Charlie Millard (2:21.49)