Ohio State
The Ohio State men’s swimming and diving team put together another impressive showing Saturday at the ninth-annual Ohio State Invitational, posting a team score of 1068.5 after two days of competition. Wisconsin holds onto the runner-up spot in the team standings, trailing the Buckeyes by 491 points. Competition will resume at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Sunday with prelims scheduled for 9 a.m. and finals slated for 3 p.m.
“The thing I’m most proud of is our teamwork,” head swimming coach Bill Wadley said. “Our teamwork was excellent both tonight and last night. Obviously you always want to swim faster, but we have been swimming well. The guys have really given a good effort. However, the best part has been the teamwork.”
Ohio State opened the evening with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The grouping of Steven Zimmerman, DJ MacDonald, Matt McHugh and Josh Fleagle posted a time of 1:26.77, earning 40 points toward the Scarlet and Gray total. The Buckeyes also took third in the event, picking up another 32 points.
Moving on to the 400 individual medley, Dimitry Dolgov dropped an NCAA ‘B’ cut time of 3:51.32 for the runner-up spot. Buckeye Jovan Mitrovic also earned an NCAA provisional qualifying time with a 3:51.32 for third in the event. McHugh followed it up with a victory in the 100 butterfly. His time of 47.71 added yet another NCAA ‘B’ time for the Scarlet and Gray.
Ohio State dominated in the 200 freestyle, claiming the top-four spots. Senior Michael DiSalle earned the win with a time of 1:35.37, while Fleagle (1:35.52), Steffen Hillmer (1:36.93) and Rowan Williams (1:36.99) followed in second through fourth. Each time recorded was an NCAA ‘B’ qualifier.
In the 100 breaststroke, the Buckeyes continued to roll with eight swimmers in the championship final. MacDonald led the pack in 53.82 for the win, while rookie Jack Barone took third in 54.27. Once again, both were NCAA provisional qualifying marks.
McHugh brought home the 100 backstroke with an NCAA ‘B’ time of 47.44, while Zimmerman followed closely in second in a time of 47.55. The win was McHugh’s second individual victory of the evening.
Team Standings:
1. Ohio State – 1068.5
2. Wisconsin – 577.5
3. Kentucky – 333.5
4. Kenyon - 276
5. Purdue – 85.5
6. Virginia - 66
7. Miami - 65
Following two days of action at the ninth-annual Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational, the Buckeyes stand fourth with a team score 413.5 points. Purdue holds a strong lead with 762 points, while Kentucky (616) and Wisconsin (498) follow in second and third, respectively. Competition will resume at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Sunday with prelims scheduled for 9 a.m. and finals slated for 3 p.m.
“I thought we had two good sessions today,” head swimming coach Bill Dorenkott said. “Our consistency between prelims and finals has been very strong, as well as our race to race consistency. We set a lot of season-best times today, which is a good sign moving forward.”
Ohio State’s 200 medley relay of Camey Rabold, Ashley Vance, Annelise Sprau and Rachael Dzierzak started the evening off with a sixth-place showing. The contingent earned 26 points for the Scarlet and Gray with a time of 1:42.88.
Sophomore Lindsey Clary picked up an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 400 individual medley. Her season-best time of 4:17.86 ranked fifth among competitors, while fellow Buckeye Annie Gillig took ninth in 4:20.72.
In the 100 butterfly, Vance touched in a season-best 55.82 for a 12th-place finish. Sophomore Kaitlyn followed it up by posting Ohio State’s top time in the 200 freestyle for 14th (1:51.82).
The Buckeyes qualified two swimmers for the championship final of the 100 backstroke. Rabold claimed third with a time of 55.76, while Gillig earned fourth in 56.25. Sophomores Amy Bopp and Maren Reeder represented the squad with fifth- and seventh-place finishes in the 100 breaststroke, respectively. Bopp’s time of 1:04.27 in the event was her fastest recorded this season.
In diving action, freshman Brittney Menninger earned a final score of 258.70 on the 1-meter apparatus.
Ohio State rounded out the evening with seventh-place standing in the 800 freestyle relay. The grouping of Zhesi Li, Rabold, Kathleen Cook and Vance posted a season-best time of 7:30.66 in the event, contributing 24 points toward the team total.
Team Standings:
1. Purdue – 762
2. Kentucky – 616
3. Wisconsin – 498
4. Ohio State – 413.5
5. Kenyon – 166.5
6. Miami - 92
7. Virginia – 69
Virginia
The Virginia divers finished action on the second day of the Ohio State Invitational Saturday (Nov. 22) at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
On the men’s 3-meter springboards, senior JB Kolod (Pittsburgh, Pa.) placed sixth in the finals with a score of 371.60, while junior Carl Buergler (Arlington, Va.) finished eighth with 342.30 points.
In prelims, junior Jordan Sacks (Wilmette, Ill.) placed 13th, while fellow junior Colby Shinholser (Burtonsville, Md.) was 14th and freshman Jake Bowtell (Darien, Conn.) was 18th.
Junior Becca Corbett (Louisville, Ky.) made the finals for the second-consecutive day, placing eighth on the women’s 1-meter boards with a score of 270.70.
In prelims, junior Katie Warburg (Wilton, Conn.) finished 13th, while freshmen Corey Johnson (Ambler, Pa.) and Emily Langworthy (Gaithersburg, Md.), junior Laura Gartrell (Fairfax, Va.) and freshman Holland Cathey (Alexandria, Va.) occupied places 15-18.
The meet concludes Sunday (Nov. 23) with both genders competing in the platform events.
Purdue
Led by victories in the 200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle, No. 25 Purdue women’s swimming and diving remained in first place through day two of the Ohio State Invitational Saturday evening.
The Boilermakers have amassed 762 points through the first two days of the three-day meet and hold a 146-point lead on second-place Kentucky.
Abby Jagdfeld established a new Purdue freshman record (1:46.40) in the 200 freestyle en route to winning the event. Emily Fogle was victorious in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.19). Hannah Manger, Fogle, Kylie Vogel and Anji Li teamed up to win the 200 medley relay with the fourth-fastest time (1:39.45) in program history.
Purdue’s men’s divers are also competing in Columbus this weekend. Steele Johnson (414.85) was victorious on 3-meter Saturday. Jamie Bissett placed third after having the top score of the prelims (406.90).
The Boilermakers finished 1-2-3 in the A final of the 200 free while accounting for six of the 10 swimmers in the race. Rhiannon Sheets and Allie Davis finished close behind Jagdfeld, who initially eclipsed Sheets’ freshman mark while being the top qualifier in prelims (1:46.86). In the finals, Jagdfeld won the race with the third-fastest time (1:46.40) in program history.
Eight Boilermakers scored team points in the 200 free and Purdue had seven of the top 16 finishers in the 100 butterfly to add to the team’s lead. All four Boilers that competed in both the 100 breast and 400 IM scored.
Nika Karlina Petric and Manger each posted the second-fastest time in program history in an event. Manger joined 100 back record holder Allie Smith as the only Boilers to ever record a sub-54 second time, finishing the prelims with a mark of 53.99. She settled for second place in the A final. Petric was also the runner-up in the A final of the 400 IM while shaving .14 hundredths off her career-best time, which now stands at 4:14.44.
Mary Beth Dunnichay also posted a runner-up finish in 3-meter diving. Teammates MacKenzie Tweardy (sixth) and Samm Reese (seventh) advanced to the final as well.
The Boilermakers took second in the 800 free relay, finishing as the runner-up behind a Kentucky team that posted an NCAA A Cut time. Jagdfeld, Sheets, Petric and Davis recorded a time of 7:14.54 that was the sixth fastest in program history.
Wisconsin
Through the second day of action at the Ohio State Invitational, the Wisconsin swimming and diving program saw its men’s team hold in second place and the women’s team finish Saturday in third place.
The No. 23 UW women’s team led the day with another solid performance in relay action, as Annie Tamblyn, Anna Meinholz, Ivy Martin and Chase Kinney combined to place second in the 200-yard medley relay (1:40.16). Not far behind was the “B” relay of Madeline Hazle, Maria Carlson, Dana Grindall, and Aja Van Hout, who placed third with a time of 1:41.70.
For the No. 19 UW men’s team, Drew teDuits, Nick Schafer, Harrison Tran and Cannon Clifton combined to touch second (1:28.59) in the 200 medley relay.
In the 400-yard individual medley, Van Hout placed third with a time of 4:14.72, while Jenny Holtzen picked up a new personal best and finished sixth in 4:18.00 to earn an NCAA ‘B’ cut. Hazle placed eighth with a time 4:19.98, a new personal best.
On the men’s side of the event, Josh Anderson came in fourth place in 3:55.21.
Wisconsin picked up a third and fourth place finish in the 100-yard butterfly for both the men and women. Leading the way for the women were Martin and Grindall, who each earned NCAA “B” cuts. Martin placed third (53.06) and Grindall touched fourth (53.68). teDuits picked up a new personal best with a time of 48.46 and Nick Caldwell placed fourth (49.40).
Clifton came in fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:37.15 and earned an NCAA ‘B’ cut.
The women’s breaststroke duo of Meinholz and Carlson showed up once again for the Badgers, as Meinholz placed third in the 100 (1:02.77) and Carlson touched sixth (1:03.46).
For the men, Schafer clinched an NCAA ‘B’ cut and second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 53.94.
Tamblyn led UW women in the 100-yard backstroke, coming in eighth with a time of 56.56. Hazle, a sophomore and Kingwood, Texas, native, finished in a personal-best time for 13th place (56.72).
On the men’s side, teDuits earned another NCAA ‘B’ cut for the Badgers and placed third with a time of 48.12.
In diving, sophomore Ashley Peterson continued her streak of impressive performances and placed ninth on the one-meter board with a score of 266.30.
To close out the second day of action, Van Hout, Grindall, Palm and Martin teamed up to placed third in the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:16.09). Leading the way for the UW men were Pinfold, Clifton, Hutchins and Caldwell, who combined to finish second in the 800 free relay (6:30.19).
Kentucky
Highlighted by two NCAA ‘A’ qualifying times and two school-record times, the Kentucky swimming and diving team won five events on the second day of the Ohio State Invitational Saturday.
UK’s Christina Bechtel, Danielle Galyer, Abby Myers and Kendal Casey won the 800 freestyle relay with a program-best time of 7:06.84, while Bechtel also broke her own school record in the 100 butterfly with a meet-record 51.11. Both times are NCAA ‘A’ qualifying times.
After two days at the three-day, seven-team Ohio State Invitational, the Kentucky women are second in the team standings with 616 points. After a strong second day, the UK men moved up to third with 333.5 points. Purdue leads the women’s scoring with 762 points, while Ohio State sits atop the men’s standings with 1,068 points.
“The highlight of the night was the relay team, earning an NCAA ‘A’ cut,” UK head coach Lars Jorgensen said. “Getting four swimmers to the NCAA Championships is phenomenal, I’m really proud of that. Christina in the 100 fly is the best time in the country this year, so that was a great swim as well. The men swam really well today too. Brandon Flynn swam a gutsy race to win the 400 individual medley and we showed some depth today.”
Along with the relay team and Bechtel, Galyer earned her second win in as many days with a victory in the 400 individual medley, while fellow sophomore Brandon Flynn also claimed a win in the men’s 400 individual medley. Freshman Bridgette Alexander recorded her first collegiate victory with a win in the 100 backstroke with the third-fastest time in program history.
Kentucky’s biggest win of the day came in the second-to-last event, the women’s 800 freestyle relay. Bechtel, Galyer, Myers and Casey finished in 7:06.84 to break the UK record by nearly four seconds. The NCAA ‘A’ qualifying time beat the second-place finishers from Purdue by nearly eight seconds. UK also finished fourth with a 7:22.80 and ninth with a 7:32.53 in the event.
Bechtel, who has not lost a butterfly event this season, remained perfect with a win in the women’s 100 butterfly. Her 51.11 broke the meet record in the event and gave the senior an NCAA ‘A’ qualifying time. Bechtel’s time also broke her own UK record, which she set last season. Myers finished second in the event for UK with a 52.87. A new personal-best and the fourth-fastest time in school history, Myers earned an NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time.
A day after setting a school record with a win in the 200 individual medley, Galyer earned a win in the 400 individual medley, under one second shy of setting another program record. The sophomore finished in 4:12.34, a new personal-best.
In the very next event in Saturday’s finals, Flynn notched a win in the men’s 400 individual medley. Flynn, who already owns the school record in the event, notched a season-best 3:51.17 for the victory.
Alexander added to Kentucky’s win total with a victory in the women’s 100 backstroke. She touched the wall in 53.76 to record the third-fastest time in Wildcat history and earn an NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time. Fellow freshman Alyssa Ruffing added a fifth-place finish in the event with a 56.26.
Senior Sam Shaheen tallied a second-place finish for the Wildcats in the women’s 100 breaststroke. With a 1:02.76, Shaheen set a new personal-best time and broke her own mark as the fourth-fastest time in program history.
Sophomore Kyle Higgins notched a runner-up finish in the men’s 100 butterfly. His time of 48.43 was just 0.02 shy of a spot among the top 10 times in UK history. Higgins’ added his place to the record books in the men’s 100 backstroke though, with a 49.39 to finish eighth, tied for the 10th-best in team history.
The final event of the day was the men’s 800 freestyle relay, where the Wildcats finished third as a team. Flynn, Higgins, sophomore Sean Gunn and freshman Isaac Jones led UK to finish in 6:37.83.
The Wildcats placed fourth and fifth in the women’s 200 freestyle. Casey was fourth with a 1:48.51, followed by senior Kristen Wilson, who touched the wall in 1:49.20. Both Casey and Wilson’s times were season-bests.
The Wildcats opened Saturday’s finals with a fourth-place finish in the women’s 200 medley relay with a time of 1:42.03. UK’s ‘B’ relay also notched a top-10 finish and finished in 1:46.22 to place 10th. In the men’s 200 medley relay, Kentucky finished seventh in 1:31.41.
In the diving competition, sophomore Rebecca Hamperian led UK with a fourth-place finish on 1-meter with a 304.00. Senior Christa Cabot scored a 261.15 to place 10th. With the men on 3-meter, freshman Levi Lindsey led UK with a 297.60 to finish 10th.
Sophomore Tanner Anderson advanced to the A final in the men’s 100 breaststroke and placed 10th overall with a 57.40.
