University of Connecticut sophomores Chris Girg (Burbach, Germany) and James Donlevy (Lake Grove, N.Y.) and junior Jeff Magin (Brookfield, Conn.) each won two individual races, as UConn defeated Villanova, 171.5-85.5, in the Huskies’ regular season opener on the road Friday afternoon.
Girg earned first place honors in both freestyle events against the Wildcats, winning the 1000-yard freestyle in 9:46.87 and finishing first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:43.83. Donlevy topped all swimmers in the 50-yard freestyle (21.63) and the 100-yard freestyle (47.37), while Magin swept both backstroke events. The Connecticut junior completed the 100-yard backstroke in 51.99 and finished the 200-yard backstroke in 1:53.91 to earn nine points for the Huskies.
Magin saw another first place finish Friday as he teamed up with seniors Lachezar Shumkov (Sofia, Bulgaria) and Felix Samuels (London, England) and junior Greg Baliko(Fanwood, N.J.) to finish first in the 200-yard medley relay, which the Huskies finished with a time of 1:34.03.
Other UConn swimmers to tally individual first place finishes were Shumkov, junior Ryan Walsh (Monroe, N.Y.), senior Wyatt Boliek (Greenville, S.C.), freshman Kyle Kimura(Tampa, Fla.) and junior Greg Baliko (Fanwood, N.J.).
Shumkov won the 100-yard breaststroke (58.63), while Walsh took home first place in the 200-yard butterfly after finishing the event in 1:56.45. Boliek touched the wall first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.51) and Kimura won his first ever event for UConn, as he completed the 500-yard freestyle in 4:45.50 to earn first place honors. Baliko beat all swimmers in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 50.70.
The Huskies return to action tomorrow when they continue their road trip against Fordham. The meet is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
Junior Laura Ruttan (Stittsville, Ontario) notched two individual victories to lead the UConn women’s swimming and diving team to a 134.5-127.5 victory over Villanova on the road in the team’s season opener Friday.
Ruttan finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:07.00, and she continued her impressive night in the 200-yard breaststroke, earning a first place finish after completing the event in 2:23.19.
UConn senior Chinyere Pigot (Miami Fla.), who broke a school record in last season’s conference meet, also had a productive meet for the Huskies on Friday, finishing first in the 100-yard freestyle (51.89) and earning a second place finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.10. The Connecticut speedster also teamed up with sophomoresChristine
Pedersen (Vinterbro, Norway) and Tara O’Prey (Ridley Park, Pa.) and Ruttan to win the 200-yard medley relay in 1:46.00.
Pedersen also had a good night for UConn, as the backstroke specialist saw a first place finish in the 100-yard backstroke (57.22) before taking second place in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:03.19. Villanova’s Gabrielle Daigneault just edged Pedersen, winning the race in 2:03.16.
“Today was an extraordinary swim meet with Villanova and a great win for our women’s team,” UConn swimming coach Bob Goldberg said. “Katy Munzenmaier and Sophie Nothnagle were especially great, and we were able to win the meet, which came down to the last relay.”
Other UConn swimmers to swim to a first place finish on Friday were senior captain Katy Munzenmaier (Lake George, N.Y.) and sophomore Sophie Nothnagle (Victor, N.Y.). Munzenmaier won the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.54), while Nothnagle topped all swimmers in the 200-yard butterfly after swimming it in 2:03.82.
UConn returns to action tomorrow when it continues its road trip against Fordham. The meet is set to start at 1 p.m.
