The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's swimming teams delivered dominant victories over the visiting Calgary Dinos and Ottawa Gee-Gees on Friday (Jan. 26) night at Varsity Pool.

"Our team really rose to the occasion tonight," expressed Varsity Blues swimming head coach Byron MacDonald following the meet. "On paper based on times done this year, the meet could have been within a five-point differential, but it wasn't. Our swimmers were totally ready to go and raced extremely well. The goal all year is to be challenging for a national title and this is another big step towards putting ourselves in a position to do that.
 
TEAM SCORES: The No. 2 nationally-ranked Blues women defeated the Dinos 92-62 and the Gee-Gees 112-39, while the No. 3 men also beat Calgary 97-57 and Ottawa 109-45.
  
WOMEN'S RESULTS: Leading the way for Toronto's women was third-year Raili Kary, winning three races including the 100m (1:00.56) and 200m backstroke (2:12.40), along with the 200m freestyle relay. In the relay, Kary joined Lily Chubaty, Alcina Leung and Teagan Vander Leek to finish with a first-place time of 1:38.72.

Also claiming the top spot in a pair of individual races, Vander Leek finished first overall in both the 50m (25.49) and 100m freestyle (56.11).

In the distance swims, third-year swimmer Mahaliya Datars dominated, placing first in both the 400m (4:16.98) and 800m freestyle (8:50.83).

Second-year Teagan McKenzie also won the 200m freestyle with a meet record time of 2:02.83, while teammate Nina Mullen finished first in the 100m butterfly (1:01.7).

"It was great to see our co-captain Mahaylia rocking the distance events with two best times and gold medals tonight," said MacDonald. "And then it was also great to see Teagan and Raili competing with the best of them as double winners tonight."
 
MEN'S RESULTS: Blues swimmers Gabe Mastromatteo and Andrew Herman led the Toronto men, recording two individual and one relay victory at the tri-meet. Mastromatteo won the 100m breaststroke (1:00.42) and set a meet record in the 200m breaststroke (2:13.12), while adding a 200m medley relay win (1:38.56) alongside Liam Weaver, Ahmed El Tatawy and Herman. Along with the relay victory, second-year swimmer Herman also won both the 100m (54.04) and 200m backstroke (2:01.41).

Weaver and El Tatawy also added an individual victory each. Weaver placed first in the 50m freestyle (22.49), while El Tatawy won the 100m butterfly with a time of 54.25. The pair also joined Graeme Aylward and Misha Bagrianski for a first-place time in 200m freestyle relay which they completed in 1:30.48.

Perennial U SPORTS and OUA champion Jacob Gallant finished first in the 200m IM with a time of 2:02.76, while first-year swimmers Bill Dongfang and Jack Li won the 200m butterfly (1:59.42) and the 200m freestyle (1:51.40), respectively.

"Gabe is an important member of our team as he can take charge of races and score big points for us," said assistant head coach Linda Kiefer. "But we were also really impressed with both Andrew Herman and Jack Li. Their great results bode well for both their individual races and our relay events."

UP NEXT: The Blues host the Toronto Grand Prix inside the Athletic Centre tomorrow Saturday, January 7.