#8 Virginia Men Top #14 UNC
The UNC-UVA dual meet is known for its long-time history between the two rival schools. Saturday morning at Koury Natatorium was no different than any other meet between the two ACC schools with intense competition as usual. The Tar Heel men hosted Virginia for their fifth ACC meet of the season trying to maintain their undefeated record. The Tar Heels fell short in their effort by a 168-132 margin.
“The UNC-UVA swim meet is one we look forward to. It is a key match-up and always an exciting meet,” said head coach Rich DeSelm. “We are getting close to conference championships and our training is beginning to take affect. The competition today was definitely a big motivator for the guys to swim season best times.”
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. 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 guys continued to maintain the Tar Heel lead 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.
Junior Tommy Wyher led the competition in the 100-yard backstroke touching in first by almost two seconds and obtaining a season best time of 47.91. Sophomore Jim Flannery came in third from the outside lane with another season best of 49.99.
Breaststrokes Vinny Pryor and Flynn Jones continued the momentum going 2-3 in the 100-yard breaststroke.
The 200-yard butterfly was another fast event for the Tar Heels. They were led by sophomore Tom Luchsinger who had an outstanding swim going a career best time of 1:48.21 just barely off of an NCAA-B qualifying time.
“I was very surprised with my swim since I am not rested nor shaved,” said Luchsinger. “The last 50 was very painful, but to achieve a personal best and then have my teammates right behind me was icing on the cake.”
Teammate Tyler Harris finished close behind Luchsinger in second and Jason McLaughlin captured fourth place putting the Heels ahead 64-48.
The 50-yard freestyle was another close race between the Heels and the Cavs Steve Cebertowicz finished in second by a slim .09 seconds holding onto the Tar Heel lead by nine.
Freshman diver Ryland Jones held his own on the 1-meter placing second.
After the first break, as could be expected, the meet was close tied at 75 going into the 100-yard freestyle.
Virginia was ready to compete coming out of the break taking first place in the first three events, but the Tar Heels didn’t back down.
Junior Tyler Harris put up a fight in the 200-yard breaststroke coming from behind and finishing in second with a season best time of 2:00.62.
Distance teammates Chip Peterson and Joe Kinderwater traded places for the 500-yard freestyle with Peterson touching in second and Kinderwater in third
Wyher continued to dominate in the 100-yard butterfly winning the event by over a second going a time of 48.20. Robert Grimmett-Norris finished in fourth with a season best time of 50.05.
“The swims of the meet were definitely by Tommy Wyher who won both the 100 butterfly and backstroke,” said DeSelm. “The amount he won by is very impressive. He dominated the field in both his individual swims and on the relay. You can tell he is primed and ready for championships.”
Virginia held the lead going into the second break with a score of 134, but the Tar Heels were still holding on with 111 points.
Ryland Jones had another second place finish on the 3-meter with a score of 305.03.
After the second break, Tyler Harris continued to compete taking first in the 200-yard IM with another season best time of 1:49.39.
The Heels finished the meet with the 400-yard freestyle touching in second and third.
“I can’t wait to get another shot at Virginia at conference championships,” said Luchsinger. “We are a solid team and will use this loss as motivation because we are a group of guys who hate to lose.”
The men will compete again tomorrow at Duke. The Tar Heels will be back in Chapel Hill to host the Wolfpack from N.C. State for Senior Night on February 5 at
6 p.m.
Men 200-yard medley relay: UNC 1:29.03
Men 1000-yard freestyle: Taylor Smith (UVA) 9:01.84
Men 200-yard freestyle: John Azar (UVA) 1:37.86
Men 100-yard backstroke: Tommy Wyher (UNC) 47.91
Men 100-yardbreaststroke: Thomas Casey (UVA) 55.81
Men 200-yard butterfly: Tom Luchsinger (UNC) 1:48.21
Men 50-yard freestyle: Scot Robinson (UNC) 20.40
Men 1-meter diving: Briggy Imbrigilia (UVA) 324.68
Men 100-yard freestyle: Scot Robison (UVA) 44.20
Men 200-yard backstroke: David Wren (UVA) 1:49.59
Men 200-yard breaststroke: Thomas Casey (UVA) 2:00.01
Men 500-yard freestyle: Taylor Smith (UVA) 4:26.27
Men 100-yard butterfly: Tommy Wyher (UNC) 48.20
Men 3-meter diving: Kevin Moore (UVA) 307.80
Men 200-yard IM: Tyler Harris (UNC) 1:49.39
Men 400-yard freestyle relay: UVA 2:58.40
