Denver Drops Opening Duals to Air Force and Washington State

Photo by: C. Morgan Engel/Clarkson Creative Photography

10/16/2026 9:30:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

The Pioneers are back on the road next weekend for a two-day meet at Pepperdine

By: Niko Blankenship

USAFA, Colo. – The University of Denver men's and women's swimming and diving programs fell in duals to Air Force and Washington State (women's only) on Friday night at Cadet Natatorium.

Team Scores:
Men's:
Air Force 163, Denver 131

Women's:
Air Force 170.5, Denver 129.5
Washington State 150, Denver 144

Event Winners:
Men's 400 Medley Relay – Quinn Collins, Kito Campbell, Hamish McLellan, Viktor Hristov – 3:20.34
Men's 1000 Free – Finn Holdredge – 9:40.98
Women's 200 Free – Samantha Synsvoll – 1:51.42
Men's 200 Free – Pierce Bickerton – 1:41.16
Men's 200 Fly - Viktor Hristov – 1:53.78
Men's 50 Free – Hamish McLellan – 20.58
Women's 500 Free – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 5:08.33
Men's 100 Fly – Hamish McLellan – 48.51
Women's 200 IM – Samantha Synsvoll – 2:06.38
Men's 200 Free Relay – Hamish McLellan, Viktor Hristov, Benjamin Stone, Quinn Collins – 1:22.45

How it Happened:
Denver's men opened its meet with a win in the 400 medley relay when the quartet of Quinn Collins, Kito Campbell, Hamish McLellan and Viktor Hristov combined for a time of 3:20.34.

In the first distance swim of the dual season, Weronika Malolepsza and Genevieve Franklin finished 3-4 with times of 10:44.39 and 10:50.14, respectively.

Finn Holdredge got to the wall first in the men's 1000 free with a time of 9:40.98. Hudson Martz also earned a spot on the podium, taking third with a time of 9:57.90.

Denver's women earned its first win when Samantha Synsvoll got to the final wall of the 200 free in 1:51.42 to take the top spot. Bianca Rayward tied for fourth with a time of 1:54.11.

Pierce Bickerton earned the Pioneer men their third victory of the evening when he won the 200 free in a time of 1:41.16. Kurt Owens grabbed third in 1:41.78.

To the backstroke, Jette Haedicke grabbed second with a 100 time of 57.61, while Isa Cardenas clocked in at 57.92 to earn fourth.

Tinkara Novak led the Pioneer women in the 100 breast on Friday night with a time of 1:05.70, good enough for the third spot on the podium. In the men's 100 breast, Kito Campbell clocked in at 56.22 to take second and Talen Palmateer finished fourth in 56.85.

Sabrina Rachjaibun earned Denver another second-place finish, this time in the 200 fly, timing in at 2:07.18. On the men's side, Viktor Hristov finished the 200 in 1:53.78 to take the top spot, edging out teammate Ian O'Neil by 0.02 seconds.

In the first freestyle sprint of the night, Hamish McLellan edged the field with a time of 20.58.

On the other side of the break, Hristov finished second in the 100 free in 46.53. Bickerton finished fourth with a 46.95.

Synsvoll finished second in the women's 200 back, reaching the wall in 2:03.72.

A few events later, Nico Morton finished second in the men's 200 breast with a time of 2:03.20. Campbell clocked in at 2:07.88 to take fourth and Cota Clise finished fifth in 2:08.04.

Rachjaibun got Denver back in the win column with her distance swim of 5:08.33 in the 500 free. Holdredge finished second on the men's side with a time of 4:39.16 and Bickerton finished third in 4:47.30.

McLellan picked up his second individual win of the night and his third overall by taking the top spot in the men's 100 fly, clocking in at 48.51.

Synsvoll made it back-to-back Denver wins with her time of 2:06.38 to take the top step in the women's 200 IM. Rachjaibun finished fourth in 2:09.38.

Morton got the second spot in the 200 IM on Friday night, finishing the four-stroke event in 1:52.58.

To close out the night, Denver's relays turned in impressive times. Cardenas, Tenaya Winter, Darian Koler and Rayward combined for a 1:34.95 to finish second in the women's 200 free relay.

The Denver men made it two-for-two on the night in relays, taking the 200 free relay when McLellan, Hristov, Benjamin Stone and Collins combined for a time of 1:22.45.

UP NEXT:
Denver will leave the state of Colorado for the first time next weekend when the Pioneers travel to Malibu for a two-day double duel with Pepperdine and Seattle. Friday's (October 23) action will begin at 5 p.m.MT, and Saturday's meet starts at 12 p.m. MT.

DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports. 
Like DU Swimming & Diving on Facebook
Follow DU Swimming & Diving on Twitter at @DU_SwimDive
Follow DU Swimming & Diving on Instagram