The North Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams had their final tune-ups prior to post-season action as they hosted the College of Charleston in dual meet action Saturday at Koury Natatorium.
The ninth-ranked Tar Heel women’s team prevailed by a score of 166-121 to run its dual meet record to 10-2. The 13th-ranked UNC men won 180-75 to finish with an 8-2 dual meet record.
The Tar Heels had the edge in talent and posted the top time or diving score in each of the 30 events on the day. On the men’s side, senior Alex Gianino (100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly) and sophomore Ben Colley (100 backstroke, 500 freestyle) both posted a pair of individual wins for Carolina. That marks the second time in the last three meets Gianino has won multiple individual events. Sophomore Nic Graesser swam on a pair of winning relay teams and also captured top honors in the 200 backstroke.
Logan Heck swam on two winning relays and Sam Lewis won the 50 free and swam on the winning 200 medley relay. Sophomore Dominick Glavich had a career best time of 1:38.23 in the 200 freestyle and he also swam on the 400 free relay.
For the women, sophomore Annie Harrison pulled off a tough double in a short span of time, taking both the 1000 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. Junior diver Kelly Corish captured both the one- and three-meter springboard events. Katie Rechsteiner, Danielle Siverling, Ally Hardesty and Cari Blalock all won an individual event while also swimming on a victorious relay. Sophomore Hannah Lincoln competed on both winning relays for the Tar Heels.
“We swam College of Charleston today in a meet that allowed some of our swimmers to swim events that they would normally get to swim in a more tightly contested dual meet,” said UNC head coach Rich DeSelm. “We trained well this week. We are obviously focused on the ACC Championships and trying to win a couple of titles if we can as well as qualifying for the NCAA Championships with as many people and as many relays as possible.”
Next up for the Tar Heels are the Atlantic Coast Conference championship meets in Greensboro, N.C. The women’s swimmer and the divers compete from February 19-22 while the men’s swimmers will be in action February 26-March 1.
“Everyone has a direction. Everyone has a focus. The team is very spirited about where we’re headed and very excited about what lies ahead,” said DeSelm.
College of Charleston competed hard but ultimately succumbed to the 13th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in swimming & diving action on Saturday afternoon at Khoury Natatorium.
The women’s team posted nine top-three finishes, but lost 166-121, while the men’s team lost 180-75.
Sophomore Lydia Renn posted a number of great performances, placing second in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:46.95. She also touched the wall in second place in the 500 free with a time of 5:16.43.
Sophomore Maly Taylor placed second in the 200 butterfly (2:08.33) and won the 100 butterfly (57.96) against CofC-only competition.
Senior Sarah Boyle placed third in the 200 backstroke (2:07.05), and also finished fourth in the 100 back (58.61). Junior Mary Frances Babrowicz went fourth in the 100 free (53.72) and 50 free (24.36). Meredith Smith finished fifth in the 200 free (1:56.16) and Taylor Hollingsworth placed fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.70).
Madison Tarleton won the 400 IM against CofC competition (4:45.23).
In diving, Megan Norton continued to lead the Cougar diving corps with a score of 253.28 in the one-meter, finishing third. She also won the three-meter (236.40) against the other Cougar divers.
On the men’s side, junior Pablo Ortiz placed third in the 200 butterfly (1:53.79). He also won the 400 IM (4:11.60) and 100 butterfly (51.05) against CofC competition.
Sophomore Jake Gregory placed third in the 1000 free (9:44.32) and in the 500 free (4:41.89). Elijah Bohon earned fifth-place finishes in the 100 back and 200 back, and Evan Renn placed third in the 200 breaststroke (2:12.68).
Greg Karel and Alex Wood each earned two fourth-place finishes, in the 50 free (21.13) and 100 free (47.27), respectively. Dave Sherrier and Cameron Oakley finished fifth in the 200 free (1:43.42) and 100 breaststroke (1:00.45).
College of Charleston concludes the season with the CAA Championships at the end of February.
