The Georgia swimming and diving teams successfully opened the 2006-07 season on Wednesday by defeating North Carolina at the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium. The Bulldogs recorded a 173-125 decision, while the Lady Bulldogs took a 169-126 victory.

"The kids did a great job," Georgia head swimming coach Jack Bauerle said. "I was really pleased with the way they raced today. We’re excited about being 1-0. UNC is always a formidable ACC opponent, so this is a nice way to start the season."

Carolina junior Lindsey Marck was a double winner for coach Frank Comfort¹s team as she won the 100-yard butterfly in 56.31 and the 200-yard butterfly in 2:03.51.

Kara Lynn Joyce picked up three individual wins to pace the Lady Bulldogs, while Claire Maust, Aleksandra Putra and Kelly McNichols each won twice. Joyce took top honors in the 50 freestyle (23.18), the 100 free (50.45) and the 200 free (1:49.47). Maust claimed wins in the 500 free (4:49.56) and the 1,000 free (9:56.45). Putra swept the 100 and 200 backstroke races, stopping the clock in 56.13 and 1:59.09, respectively. McNichols touched in 1:02.88 and 2:16.50 to win the 100 and 200 breaststroke races.

Other winners for the Lady Bulldogs included Emily Hunter on the 3-meter springboard (272.55 points) and the 200 medley relay team of Lauren Groblewski, McNichols, Lisa Caprioglio and Anne-Marie Botek (1:44.47).

For the men, Sebastien Rouault won three times, and Nathan Bibliowicz, Neil Versfeld and Gil Stovall all posted a pair of victories. Rouault won the 500 free in 4:27.40, the 1,650 free in 15:10.77 and the 400 individual medley in 4:03.66. Bibliowicz swept the 100 and 200 freestyle races in 46.04 and 1:41.13. Versfeld took the top spots in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events (57.58 and 2:03.40), while Stovall claimed the 100 and 200 butterfly races in 49.75 and 1:49.60.

Other winners for the Bulldogs were Chris Spooner in the 100 backstroke (50.84), Joe Smutz in the 50 freestyle (20.80) and the 200 medley relay team of Kit French, Michael Cellini, Joe Redmon and Smutz (1:32.90). Smutz’s time in the 50 free was the fastest ever recorded by a Bulldog in a dual meet.

Junior Ryan Funderburk swept the diving events for the Carolina men. Funderburk scored 307.65 points on the one-meter board and 340.43 on the three-meter board. Freshman Jeff James won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:49.30

The Gabrielsen Natatorium opener for both Georgia squads is Thursday, Oct. 19, as they play host to South Carolina and Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. The Tar Heels will host the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Richmond Spiders in dual meets at Koury Natatorium on November 3 and 4.