ABILENE, Texas -  McMurry University's swimming teams opened the 2015-16 with split results versus Austin College at the Phillips Family Center.  The War Hawk women defeated the Kangaroos, 154-116, while the McM men lost by a 156-109 count.
 
The McM women won 11 of the 13 events, while the men earned gold in three races.
 
Freshman Monica Flores (Houston, Texas/North Shore H.S.) had quite a debut as a War Hawk swimmer, winning three individual victories. Flores took top honors in the grueling double of the 500-yard freestyle (5:57.23) and 1000-yard freestyle (11:58.62). She also won the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:29.09 minutes.
 
Sophomore Katie Gorka was the runner-up to Flores in both the 500 and 1000 freestyle, making her first appearance since a shoulder injury sidelined her early in 2014. Gorka had times of 6:02.26 and 12:31.30, respectively. She also swam the lead leg on McM's winning 200 freestyle relay quartet (along with Kelsey Hill, Kaitlyn Powell and McNamee).
 
The War Hawks also won the 200 medley relay in a time of 2:02.80.
 
McNamee won the 200 freestyle (2:11.04), leading a 1-2-3 McMurry sweep in the race. Amber Garrett was second (2:15.36) and Hill third (2:17.76).  Garret won the 100 yard butterfly (1:09.20) and Hill the 100 freestyle (1:00.96).
 
Sophomore Robyn Remschel was first in her specialty 100 backstroke (59.41 seconds) and also swam the lead leg on the 200 medley relay-winning team. Remschel was also second in the 50-yard freestyle (26.44).
 
Senior Samantha Spain rounded out the McM winner's list in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching at 1:19.30 minutes.
 
On the men's side, the War Hawks started the meet off on a good note with a come-from-behind victory in the 200 medley relay. The quartet consisted of Jerick Pena, Zach Tassin, Craig Bell and Kent Grimes. Bell made up the bulk of the real estate with the front-running Kangaroos on the third leg, with Grimes cleaning up on the anchor leg to give the team a finishing time of 1:46.36.
 
Individually, Pena won the 100-yard butterfly at 56.02 seconds. Grimes took first place in the 100 backstroke (57.68), as well. Grimes was also the runner-up in the 200 freestyle (1:55.22) and Bell rang in with a second in the 200 individual medley (2:11.93).
 
Freshman Austin Gombas placed second in the 50-yard freestyle (24.62 seconds). Senior Christian Chavez was second in the men's 100 breaststroke at 1:15.19 minutes.