Alaskans making waves at Wyoming (Swimming)
The University of Wyoming men’s swim team had a strong showing at the Denver University Relays to kick off the NCAA season.
The Cowboys won five events – with Wasilla’s Jeff Frey having a hand in each one.
Frey is among five Alaska men swimming for Wyoming. The 6-foot-3 sophomore sprinter is the man in the 50 and 100 free, posting the top two times in both events as a freshman.
Frey’s 50 free sits as the fifth all-time fastest time for the Cowboys and his 100 free is sixth. He played a very key role in the Cowboys 200 medley relay team placing fourth at the Mountain West Championships.
The Cowboys picked up their first win in the 200 medley relay (1:32.17) that included Frey and Nick Rutecki of Juneau.
Rutecki, another tall sophomore sprinter at 6-2, was also a member of the 200 medley relay team that finished fourth at the conference championships. He helped the 200 medley relay team to a fourth-place finish at the Mountain West Championships.
Back to the season opener, Frey and Rutecki teamed with Ryan O’Leary of Seward to give Wyoming a win in the 100 freestyle relay in 37.85.
In the 500 freestyle relay Frey, O’Leary helped the Cowboys take first place with a time of 4:05.23.
O’Leary is a promising freshman who as a senior in high school was named Alaska Male Swimmer of the Year and was a Junior National qualifier in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly.
Rutecki and Frey combined for another win in the 100 medley relay (41.95).
The team’s final win came in the 400 freestyle when Frey, O’Leary and Rutecki helped Wyoming touch the wall first in 3:06.38.