The Tigers defeated Centenary College on October 10 in their first meet of the season with a score of 141-62 for the men’s team and 180-18 for the women’s team.

The top scorers of the meet for the men’s team included Andrew Thiesse, who won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.27 seconds and the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:55.35.

“The results were actually a little better than we anticipated,” Thiesse said. “Going into the meet, our only goal was to swim hard and swim smart.”

He was joined by Andre Paganin-Newlands, who took first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.99 and the 100 freestyle with a time of 48.66.

The men’s relay teams were also successful this weekend, taking first in the 200 freestyle, 200 medley and the 400 freestyle.

The 200 freestyle team consisted of Newlands, Johnson, Gordon Allan and Jake Spitz, finishing with a time of 1:29.41.

The 200 Medley relay took first with a time of 1:19.14 with input from Johnson, Colton Smith, Spitz and Nathaniel Adams.

Lastly, Thiesse, Allan, Spencer Adickes and Newlands all contributed to the first place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, finishing with a time of 3:19.01.

On the women’s side, Ashley Ward, a first year for the Tigers, took home two individual wins in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:01.90 and the 100 freestyle with a time of 57.50.

“I feel like I can say we were a mix of excitement and nervousness going into our first meet as a college swimmers,” Ward said. “In general, I believe everyone was pretty pumped to get a couple races in for the start of the season.”

Joining Ashley in first place victories was senior Kara Beauchamp in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:11.46, Lindsey Hagmann in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.14, Paige Johnson in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:01.95, Bethany Rysak in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:01.86 and Lauren Cuda in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:30.23.

The women’s team also had successful relays, starting with the 200 freestyle relay recording a time of 1:45.21 lead by Kate Spitz, Rysak, Althea Hesson and Hagmann.

The 200 medley also took first with a time of 1:56.74 with contributions by Samantha Michaelson, Beauchamp, Cuda and Hagmann.

Lastly, the 400 freestyle also took first place with a team of Hagmann, Ward, Spitz and Ivy Claflin, finishing with a time of 3:51.23.

With this being only the first meet of the season these are great results, promising more victories at future swim meets.

“Our goals for the rest of the season are to win conference for the 13th time in a row and send more people to the NCAA’s,” Beauchamp said.

The team has high expectations for the season, which will definitely be achievable if they stay on this path.

“It was a meet that definitely got the confidence of a lot of the team lifted as we move forward this season,” Thiesse said.

The Trinity Tigers will host their first home swim meet of the season  on October 24 against McMurry University at 12:30 p.m.