UBC Women's Swim Team Repeat As CIS National Champions

2/23/2013 9:01:00 PM

Calgary, AB - The UBC Thunderbirds women's swim team repeated as CIS National Champions winning the program's 18th national title Saturday night in Calgary. The men's team put in a valiant effort, but finished in second place, just 15 points behind the University of Toronto.

The women's finished off a dominant three days defeating their closest competition, the Calgary Dinos, by 143 points. The UBC women won one gold, two silver, and two bronze on the final day to seal the deal. 18 national titles is the most of any program at UBC.

SWIM: CIS Championships (Feb. 23, 2013) Gallery

"It's so exciting to get two in a row," said Savannah King. "We had a decade of dominance and then fell off the rails a little bit for those few years, but we are back on top and I think it's going to continue for the years to come and i'm so excited to be apart of it."

King led the way on the final day winning her second individual gold medal of the meet in the women's 800m freestyle. She has won that event three straight years. For her performance overall King was named the CIS Female Swimmer of the Year for a second straigh time.

"It's awesome," said King. "That was one of my goals coming in. I have two years left, so let's see if I can keep the ball rolling."

King also won a silver medal with the 4x100 medley relay team consisting of Erin Stamp, Grainne Pierse, and Heather MacLean. It was MacLean's second silver of the evening, after finishing second in the 100m freestyle. Brittney Harley earned the bronze in the 100m freestyle. Tera Van Beilen picked up the other medal, a bronze in the women's 50m breaststroke.

"We are a dominant team," said UBC head coach Steve Price. "The girls stepped up and got better and better as the meet went on. I thought they really showed their character tonight. They are a proud bunch of girls and they stepped up today and showed that."

Price was named the CIS Female Coach of the Year.

"I really share this award with all my staff who put in the hard work with this team," said Price. "It's an honour to be recognized for the work we are doing here."

The men entered the night just seven points behind the University of Toronto and knew it would be a battle to the finish. In the end, they came up short finishing in second place, just 15 points behind Toronto. Calgary, who won the Canada West title, came in third place.

"I'm really proud of our guys," said Price. "They stepped up and battled all the way to the end and that is all i can ask from them. Honestly, on paper before this meet we were probably sitting in third, but to finish second and 15 points from first, I can't ask for anything more."

"We were in the opposite position just winning a close race last year to win a title," said Kelly Aspinall. "We put up a great fight considering we weren't expected to be even close. It took a lot of guts to make it a race like that and I'm really proud of the guys."

Aspinall wrapped up his CIS career by winning a silver medal in the men's 100m freestyle and a gold in the men's 4x100m medley relay. He was named the CIS Male Swimmer of the Year for his work.

"I'm really happy to win the award," said Aspinall. "I met a lot of goal times, got on the team (FISU World University Games team). and am walking away from the CIS's really happy with what i've done."

"Those major honours are really special for the team," said Price. "I'm very happy for Savannah to do it two years in a row and particularly happy for Kelly in his last year going out and winning that award. He really stepped up and showed great leadership all the way through."

Final Standings

Women

1. UBC 691

2. Calgary 548

3. Toronto 300

Men

1. Toronto 539

2. UBC 524

3. Calgary 514

CIS Female Swimmer of the Year - Savannah King

CIS Male Swimmer of the Year - Kelly Aspinall

CIS Women's Swim Coach of the Year - Steve Price

For the complete results, click here.