LONDON, Ont. - The McMaster Marauders swimming teams took to the water on Day 1 of the 2023 OUA Swimming Championships and landed on the podium three times. 

With the morning session dedicated to the preliminary races, it was the afternoon session that yielded the first medals of the weekend. In the first final of the day, it was the Marauders that led the way in the Women's 4x50m Freestyle Relay. Hiva Fazeli, Michelle Wang, Leah Russel and Heather Aylward topped the podium in 1:46.00 to earn the maroon and grey's first gold of the Championship. 

Several other members of the Marauders women's team racked up some points for the Hamilton squad. Naeva Scott Bouris placed 8th in the 200m Freestyle in 2:05.43 while Erin Anderson's time of 2:06.56 secured her 12th place. Fifth-year veteran, Maggie Smith, landed in the Top 5 in the 50m Backstroke (29.66) while teammates Heather Aylward and Leah Russell touched the wall in 30.34 (8th) and 30.44 (12th), respectively. In the final individual women's race of the night, Claire Halford completed the 400m Individual Medley in 8th with a time of 5:05.01 while Sydney Londergan was just a few spots back in 12th (5:06.37). The Marauders ended the night competing in the 4x100m Medley Relay, finishing just shy of the podium in fourth spot with a time of 4:24.52.

The reigning national champions, the Varsity Blues women's squad holds the lead after Day 1 with 386 points, ahead of the host Western Mustangs (276.5) and Guelph Gryphons (154). The Marauders currently sit in fourth spot with 140 points.

McMaster also started the night strong on the men's side in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay. Less than a second off the gold medal time, Cyrus Drabik, Bijan Ziaian, Josiah Terejko and Cameron Johnsen locked down the silver medal in 1:31.60. Johnsen, a Thunder Bay local, also secured an individual bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke, finishing on the podium thanks to a time of 1:01.59. Outside of medal performances, the Marauders had a number of other strong showings in the finals.

Kevork Baghdassarian finished 5th in the 200m Freestyle (1:52.20) while fellow Marauders, Max Angove and Trevor Laupland, touched the wall in 10th (1:54.94) and 11th (1:55.44) spot. In the 50m Backstroke, Colin Campbell and Cyrus Drabik finished 7-8 with times of 26.69 and 27.61. Outside of Johnsen, William Clarke also had a day in the 100m Breaststroke, just missing out on the Top 10 in 1:03.33. Baghdassarian also competed in the 100m Butterfly, finishing 8th overall (55.50). The maroon and grey had three swimmers land in the Top 7 in the 400m Individual Medley. Kevin Ireland led the way for the Marauders, touching the wall in fourth (4:31.68) while Adam Miecznikowski and Omar El Aref finished in 6th (4:37.07) and 7th (4:38.03).

After Day 1, McMaster sits in third spot in the team standings with 196 points. The Toronto Varsity Blues (276) and Western Mustangs (237) hold the top two spots.

DAY 1 TEAM STANDINGS
 
Men's:
Toronto – 276
Western – 237
McMaster – 196
Waterloo – 195
Guelph – 80
Queen's – 71
Carleton – 62
Brock – 53
Laurier – 49
York – 45

Women's:
Toronto – 386
Western – 276.5
Guelph – 154
McMaster – 140
Waterloo – 120.5
Queen's – 56
Brock – 51
Laurier 42
Carleton – 39
York – 18