Jan. 24, 2010

Tar Heel Swimmers & Divers Bounce Back Into Win Column
The Tar Heel swimming and diving teams bounced back into the win column Sunday afternoon by sweeping Duke at the Duke Aquatics Center. The UNC women beat Duke 171-124 and the men defeated the Blue Devils 161.5-137.5 as both Carolina teams extended their long winning streaks over the nearby rivals.

Even after competing the day before against the defending ACC champions from the University of Virginia, the UNC swimmers and divers were able to pull out another win against the Duke Blue Devils. Carolina's men are now 9-1 overall on the season and 5-1 in the ACC. The women are now 8-2 on the campaign and 5-1 in the conference meet.

The victories earned Carolina two points in the 2009-10 Carlyle Cup race, giving the Tar Heels a six-point advantage in the competition. The Carlyle Cup, now in its 10th year, is sponsored by Carlyle & Company and matches the two schools in head-to-head competition in 24 sports. UNC now leads this year's race 8.5 points to 2.5.

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Jan. 23, 2010

No. 11 Cavalier Women Defeat No. 15 North Carolina
The 11th-ranked Virginia women defeated No. 15 North Carolina 185-113 in a conference dual meet Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Cavaliers improved to 7-1 in dual meets this year, including an undefeated mark of 4-0 against ACC foes.

In the win against the Tar Heels, senior Mei Christensen posted an NCAA 'A' cut with her win in the 100 back, clocking a time of 52.93. That mark also set the pool record. She went on to win the 200 back with a mark of 1:56.30, an NCAA 'B' time.

Freshman Lauren Perdue picked wins in the 50 free (22.40, 'B'), and set the pool record in the 100 free with a winning time of 48.78, another 'B' mark. 

Eighth-Ranked Virginia Men Down No. 14 UNC
The eighth-ranked Cavalier men's swimming and diving team defeated No. 14 North Carolina 168-132 in a conference dual meet Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C. Virginia improved to 7-1 in dual meets this season, including a 4-0 mark against ACC opponents.

The Tar Heels dominated the first event of the meet, the 200 medley relay, taking both first and second place. But the Cavaliers were quick to respond with wins in the next two events.

Junior Taylor Smith claimed the 1000 free (9:01.84), his first of two event wins on the day, before senior John Azar won the 200 free (1:37.86, 'B'). Smith also earned a victory in the 500 free, clocking an NCAA 'B' time of 4:26.27.

Seminoles Conclude Dual Meet Season
The Florida State swimming and diving teams concluded the dual meet portion of the season Saturday, facing off against the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Seminole men swept Georgia Tech (212-86) and Virginia Tech (183-117), while the women defeated the Yellow Jackets (222-76), but narrowly lost to the Hokies (154.50-145.50).

Following the weekend meet the men boast a 6-2 overall record and are 3-1 against ACC opponents. The women are 8-3 overall, with a 3-2 ACC record.

The men’s team earned 10 event wins at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. Ian Rowe, Andy Hodgson and Rob Holderness led the men with two individual event wins each. Rowe won the 100 (9:14.63) and 500 free (4:32.74). Hodgson was victorious in the 200 free (1:40.46) and the 200 back (1:47.65). Holderness came out on top in the 100 breast (56.01) and the 200 breast (2:00.57). Robby Hayes won the 100 free with a time of 45.32. Terry Horner came in first in the one-meter diving with a score of 407.90. Landon Marzullo won the three-meter dive with a score of 424.50. Corey Swanson, Mark Weber, Matt Shead and Hodgson combined to win the final event of the meet, the 400 free relay, with a time of 3:03.36. 

Virginia Tech Women sweep, men split against Georgia Tech, Florida State
The Virginia Tech H2Okies returned to ACC competition for their final meet against conference opponents until the ACC Championships, and combined for a memorable day at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center on Saturday. The 20th-ranked women swept both Georgia Tech and 25th-ranked Florida State with respective scores of 220-78 and 154.50-145.50. The women’s victory over Florida State marked the first dual-meet win over the Seminoles in program history. The 25th-ranked men finished the day even, defeating the Yellow Jackets 187-111, but falling to the 15th-ranked Seminoles 183-117.

The women were led by star performances from Sarah Losinger and Katarina Filova, who each posted two titles. Filova added a runner-up performance and helped the H2Okies clinch the deciding victory in the final 400 free relay as well.

Both the H2Okies’ 400 medley relay teams opened with victories, as the women set the pace with a finish in 3:50.20, while the men’s top finish marked a season-best time of 3:19.98.

NC State Downs Clemson
The NC State swimming and diving team used arguably its strongest combined performance in recent memory to sweep Clemson in a crucial ACC meet on Senior Day at Casey Natatorium on campus.

The men grabbed a 176.5-121.5 decision, while the women scored a 176-124 victory. Both teams combined to claim 24 of the 32 events, with each squad winning 12. Anna Linkenauger and Marifrances Henley each had four wins for the women, while Conor Brennan and Brandon Kingston each had three for the men.

The Wolfpack men move to 5-1 (3-1 ACC) with the victory, as the women climb to 7-1 (3-1 ACC).  

Georgia Tech Falls to Florida State and Virginia Tech
The Georgia Tech swimming & diving teams dropped meets with Florida State and Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon. The men's team lost to the Seminoles 212-86 and the Hokies 187-111, while the women fell to FSU 222-76 and V.T. 220-78

With the losses, the men's team falls to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in ACC meets, while the women fall to 4-7-1 overall, 1-6 in the ACC. The meet was the last for Georgia Tech in the ACC dual meet campaign.

Things got underway on the day in the 400-medley relay with the Yellow Jacket team of Heidi Hatteberg, Lisa Pucci, Christine Chuang and Agatha Kwasnik finishing second in a time of 3:51.45. On the men's side of the 400-medley relay, the team of Johnny Hagaman, Gal Nevo, Travis Wagner and Nigel Plummer finished fourth overall in a time of 3:22.36.

Tar Heel Men Fall Short Against The Cavaliers
The No. 14 North Carolina men's swimming and diving team fell to No. 8 Virginia 168-132 in Atlantic Coast Conference action Saturday at Koury Natatorium. The Tar Heels jumped out to an early lead in the meet before the Cavaliers rallied in the second half of action to pull away for the victory.

The meet got off to an exciting start on the Tar Heel side as the men's team went 1-2 in the 200-yard medley relay. Backstroker Josh Hafkin led off for the men followed by Vinny Pryor, Tommy Wyher and Steve Cebertowicz who touched the wall in first place. The winning relay swam two seconds faster than their season best time finishing in 1:29.03. With the men touching in first and second, it gave them a quick lead of 15-2 after the first event.

The distance swimmers continued to maintain the Tar Heel lead by finishing second and third in the 1000-yard freestyle. All three Tar Heels, Joe Kinderwater, Chip Peterson and Sean Lane achieved season-best times in this event.

Freshman Carly Smith Breaks School Record In 100 Backstroke
The 15th-ranked Tar Heel women's swimming and diving team fell to 11th-ranked Virginia 185-113 at Koury Natatorium in dual meet action Saturday afternoon as Carolina lost for the first time in ACC action this season. Freshman Carly Smith led the Tar Heels' efforts by winning the 100-yard backstroke, breaking a school record which had stood for 10 years.

The women began the meet with the 200-yard medley relays coming in both second and third. The Tar Heels' "A" relay posted a season best time with an NCAA "B" qualifying time with their second place finish in 1:41.75.

The 200-yard freestyle was a close race, but Junior Katura Harvey was able to get her hand on the wall first, finishing in a time of 1:49.31, her season best. 

Tigers Fall to Wolfpack in Swimming and Diving
The Clemson men and women's swimming and diving teams fell to North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon. The Wolfpack's men defeated the Tigers 176.5-121.5, while the women fell 176-124. Clemson now falls to 8-4 (2-3 ACC) on the women's side and 5-4 (0-4 ACC) on the men's side.

Freshman Meg Anderson led the way for the women winning the 50 free and the 100 free. Sarah Smith took second in the 1000 free and 500 free and senior Katrina Obas had a trio of second place finishes, as she took second in the 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 IM. Kelli Kyle also got a win for the Tigers by taking the 100 back. Junior Meggie Mizelle scored for the Tigers in the 200 fly and Maddie Tarantolo took second in the 200 fly.

For the men, Thomas Recko won both the 100 and 200 back for the Tigers with Jason Chatlosh finishing second in the 100 back. Lee Groseclose added a win in the 200 free and Chris Dart took second in the event. Freshman Eric Bruck won the 50 free. Alex Carr scored for the Tigers in the 1000 free by taking second and David Gordon finished second in the 500 free. 

WVU Tops Maryland
The Maryland men's swimming and diving team put in a solid effort Saturday, falling to West Virginia in dual meet action at Eppley Recreation Natatorium.

The Mountaineers topped the Terps, 136-107, despite some great swims by Maryland, highlighted by the distance events.

Chris Rouchard won both the 1000 free (9:26.68) and 500 free (4:35.95) as the Terps as a unit picked up hefty points in both events. Nick Evans finished second in the 1000 free (9:35.53) and third in the 500 free (4:38.62). Brian Honore helped Maryland complete the sweep in the 500, taking second (4:37.42). 

Jan. 22, 2010

Virginia Sets Four Pool Records in Win at Duke
The Virginia men's and women's swimming and diving teams combined to set four pool records in wins over conference foe Duke Friday in Durham, N.C. The 11th-ranked Cavalier women's team downed the Blue Devils 157.5-127.5 while the No. 8 UVa men earned a 159-133 victory.

Virginia senior Garrett Wren set the Taishoff Aquatics Pavilion record in the 1000 freestyle with his winning time of 9:25.95. Teammate Scot Robison, a junior, also set the pool mark in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:38.82.

Two pool records were also set by the Cavalier women. Sophomore Lauren Smart posted a time of 2:00.85 in the 200 back while classmate Joanna Thomas set a new mark in the 400 IM, clocking a time of 4:22.83.

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Miami Swims Past Florida Atlantic, 171-116
Head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas earned her first victory at FAU on Friday afternoon, as the University of Miami swimming team defeated Florida Atlantic, 171-116, at the FAU Aquatics Center in Boca Raton, Fla.

The Hurricanes began the day with a second place finish in the 200 medley relay, using the team of Hannah Kling (leadoff), Sofia Johansson (second), Deidre Novotny (third) and Lauren Jacoby (anchor) to post a season-best time of 1:45.00.

In the 1000-yard freestyle, junior Ryann Labreche touched the wall in second place, turning in a time of 10:37.79. Teammate Gina Mayer finished just behind Labreche in third place, scoring a time of 10:41.52, and Taylor Grenda was fifth (10:47.09).