Twee recente nieuwsberichtjes op de webstek van de Dallas Mustangs (het sportteam van de Texaanse Southern Methodist University) leren ons dat Sascha Van den Branden goed in vorm verkeert. Ook haar team- en landgenote Emily Vavourakis krijgt een eervolle vermelding.

22 januari 2010:

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU swim team won in convincing fashion over Rice, 129-89, Friday night at Perkins Natatorium. In the meet, the Mustangs won 10 of 13 events. Sascha Van den Branden had an impressive night, winning three events she competed in.

Van Den Branden won the 1000 yard freestyle (10:15.10), 100 yard freestyle (51.71) and was part of the winning 200 yard freestyle relay team (1:35.65). Justine Clark, who was a teammate of Van Den Branden on the relay squad, also won two events, with the 200 yard freestyle relay as well as individually in the 400 yard IM.

SMU will go for a perfect 2-0 homestand on Saturday, as the team welcomes in C-USA opponent Houston at 1 p.m., at Perkins Natatorium. Full results will be on smumustangs.com following the conclusion of the meet.

23 januari 2010:

DALLAS (SMU) - The No. 18 SMU women's swim team won its second straight meet Saturday, defeating the University of Houston 136-98 at Joe Perkins Natatorium. Sascha Van den Branden had another strong day winning two events.

"We wanted to treat this meet like the last day of prelims at the Conference meet," head coach Steve Collins said. "Our divers faced a strong group in Houston and responded well. I'm really proud of the whole team."

A day after winning three events against Rice, Van den Branden won two more, edging out Justine Clark in the 200 yard freestyle by a margin of 1:51.70-1:52.59. She then was able to get by teammate Emily Vavourakis in the 100 yard freestyle 51.94-52.09.

Also winning multiple events for the Mustangs were Devon Callaghan and Therese Svendsen. Svendsen started out the day on the winning team in the 400 yard medley relay, and picked up two more victories in the 400 yard IM (4:24.24) and the 200 yard backstroke (2:04.10). Callaghan was a victor twice, teaming with Svendsen in the opening relay and individually in the 500 yard freestyle (4:59.75).

SMU will return to action on Feb. 1 as part of the U.S. Diving National Championships. Its next dual meet will be on Feb. 6 in Perkins Natatorium against the University of Texas. Meet time is slated for 11 a.m.