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UNC Swept by Georgia

The North Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams suffered their first losses of the season Saturday afternoon as they were swept by the Georgia Bulldogs at the Gabrielsen Natatorium. The Georgia women prevailed 177-112 while the UNC men fell to the Bulldogs 180.5-119.5. It was the first victory for the Georgia men over the Tar Heels since 2008.

"Traveling to swim against Georgia Tech and Georgia was a great experience for us. It is tough going on the road and swimming two meets in two days," said UNC head coach Rich DeSelm. "We got good experience racing and competing during a fall break trip that should set us up well for the remainder for our fall semester dual meet season.

"We were able to swim in two outstanding facilities that have both hosted conference championships and national championships. We took each meet one day at a time and were happy to get a pair of wins at Georgia Tech. Today we faced an outstanding Georgia program. Although we didn’t win either meet, we advanced our team forward and have a lot to be proud of."

North Carolina was led on the men’s side by senior Steve Cebertowicz who had a pair of event wins. Cebertowicz motored home for a first place touch in the 50-yard freestyle in a season best 20.44 and he also hit the pad first in the 100-yard freestyle, going 44.35. Senior Jim Flannery and junior Tom Luchsinger also produced individual event wins as Flannery topped the leader board in the 100-yard backstroke at 49.92 and Luchsinger placed first in the 200-yard butterfly at 1:48.12. Senior David MacDonald was also an individual event winner as he took one-meter diving with 349.05 points.

Georgia’s men broke open a close meet by winning six straight events in the second half of the meet. The meet ended on a high note for both teams as Georgia and Carolina tied for first place in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The UNC team of Steve Cebertowicz, Dominick Glavich, Brock Park and Evan Reed clocked a season best time of 3:01.10 in the event.

"We had the good fortune of winning the men’s meet against Georgia the past two seasons so we knew we would face a passionate opponent today," said DeSelm. "It was a great meet even though w fell short on the score. We had a lot of improved times. Steve Cebertowicz continues to have a great start to his senior year. We have a lot of people really take their swimming to a new level and that’s what you have to do during the course of the fall.

"Evan Reed had a great meet and J.T. Stilley is coming alive as well in the freestyles. Tom Luchsinger was a very busy guy and stepped up as he always does and race hard and won an event for us. We ended up finishing up the meet with a 3:01 on what was a very good freestyle relay."

Despite not winning either of her two main events, sophomore Stephanie Peacock lowered her season best times, which ranks tops in the ACC, in both the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. She placed third in the 200 free, just .08 out of first place, going 1:47.41, almost two full seconds off her previous season best. Peacock finished second in the 500 free in 4:41.33, just two one-hundredths of a second behind Georgia’s Wendy Trott. In the process, Peacock shaved over seven seconds off her previous season best of 4:48.95.

UNC senior Jenna Moore wasa two-event winner for the Tar Heels as she swept both diving boards, scoring 321.60 on the three-meter board and 300.15 on the one-meter board.

"On the women’s side, although she didn’t touch first in either event, Stephanie Peacock’s races were her best in-season swims ever. I’m not sure I have ever seen a pair of 4:41s together in a dual meet in the 500 free like Wendy Trott and Stephanie put up today. Jenna Moore had a senior day type performance. Jenna stepped up today and was really good for us. Laura Moriarty continues to have a great start to her senior year. Laura is racing as fast as she ever has at this point in the season."

The Tar Heels return to action when they travel to meet Virginia Tech on the road next Friday at 3 p.m., continuing their ACC season. The meet will be held in Christiansburg, Va.,at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

Women’s Top Performances

200-Yard Medley Relay: Georgia (Kristen Shickora, Melanie Margalis, Lauren Harrington, Megan Romano), 1:41.31.

1000-Yard Freestyle: Wendy Trott (GA), 9:46.03

200-Yard Freestyle: Shannon Vreeland (GA), 1:47.33

100-Yard Backstroke: Kelsey Gaid (GA), 55.07

100-Yard Breaststroke: Melanie Margalis (GA), 1:01.70

200-Yard Butterfly: Lauren Harrington (GA), 1:58.92

50-Yard Freestyle: Maddie Locus (GA), 22.95

Three-Meter Diving: Jenna Moore (UNC), 321.60

100-Yard Freestyle: Maddie Locus (GA), 49.99

200-Yard Backstroke: Kelsey Gaid (GA), 1:59.07

200-Yard Breaststroke: Melanie Margalis (GA), 2:12.44

500-Yard Freestyle: Wendy Trott (GA), 4:41.31

100-Yard Butterfly: Lauren Harrington (GA), 54.14

One-Meter Diving: Jenna Moore (UNC), 300.15

400-Yard Individual Medley: Melanie Margalis (GA), 4:09.73

400-Yard Freestyle Relay: Georgia (Maddie Locus, Shannon Vreeland, Jessica Graber, Megan Romano), 3:20.38

Men’s Top Performances

200-Yard Medley Relay: Georgia (Luke Upchurch, Nic Fink, Doug Reynolds, Michael Arnold), 1:30.53

1000-Yard Freestyle: Will Freeman (GA), 9:04.70

200-Yard Freestyle: Jameson Hill (GA), 1:37.71

100-Yard Backstroke: Jim Flannery (UNC), 49.92

100-Yard Breaststroke: Nic Fink (GA), 55.94

200-Yard Butterfly: Tom Luchsinger (UNC), 1:48.12

50-Yard Freestyle: Steve Cebertowicz (UNC), 20.44

Three-Meter Diving: David MacDonald (UNC), 349.05

100-Yard Freestyle: Steve Cebertowicz (UNC), 44.35

200-Yard Backstroke: Jared Markham (GA), 1:46.82

200-Yard Breaststroke: Nic Fink (GA), 2:03.08

500-Yard Freestyle: Martin Grodzki (GA), 4:25.17

100-Yard Butterfly: Doug Reynolds (GA), 48.79

One-Meter Diving: Owen Blank (GA), 337.27

400-Yard Individual Medley: Andrew Gemmell (GA), 3:54.53

400-Yard Freestyle Relay: Georgia (Doug Reynolds, Jameson Hill, John Simmons, Michael Arnold), 3:01.10 & North Carolina (Steve Cebertowicz, DominickGlavich, Brock Park, Evan Reed), 3:01.10.

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