The South Carolina swimming and diving team earned a split decision with Missouri on Saturday as the Gamecock women picked up a 153.5-146.5 victory and the men fell to the Tigers 181-119.
The distance swimmers again shined for the Gamecocks as the both the men and women swept the 1,000 freestyle. Senior Victoria Mitchell claimed first on the women’s side with a time of 10:01.79. Freshman Sarah Smith (10:09.72) and Charlsie Reneski (10:17.33) followed in second and third place, respectively. Freshman Akram Mahmoud earned his second-straight win in the event with a career-best time of 9:11.74. Freshmen Tomas Peribonio (9:20.03) and Travis Morrin (9:24.95) finished second third, respectively.
Junior Marwan El Kamash recorded a pair of wins in the 200 (1:39.07) and 500 freestyle (4:27.44). Peribonio picked up the only other win for the men’s squad in the 400 IM with a time of 3:55.09.
Redshirt sophomore Kevin Leithold and freshman Nils Wich-Glasen both added a pair of second-place finishes, Leithold’s in the 50 (20.78) and 100 freestyle (45.24) and Wich-Glasen’s in the 100 (55.40) and 200 breaststroke (2:00.07).
Freshman Taylor Worrell earned her first win of the season in the 500 freestyle with her career-best time of 4:53.88. Worrell finished third in the 200 freestyle earlier in the meet with a time of 1:50.69.
Mitchell recorded her second win of the meet in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:01.65 and senior Elisabeth Worrell followed in second place with a time of 2:03.02.
Freshman Meredith Vay claimed first place in the 200 freestyle (1:50.22) and tallied with a pair of second-place finishes in the 50 (23.70) and 100 freestyle (50.97).
Senior Patricia Kranz won both boards for the Gamecocks, posting scores of 297.82 on the one-meter and 325.80 on the tree-meter. Freshman Julia Vincent finished second in the three-meter competition (321.82) and third in the one-meter (282.90). On the men's side, senior Cole Miller and sophomore Jordan Gotro combined to take second and third on both boards.
The women clinched their victory in the 400 freestyle relay as the team of Meredith Vay, Rachel Elliott, Taylor Worrell and Megan Carlson claimed first place with a season-best time of 3:26.22.
NOTABLES
Men
• Akram Mahmoud set a personal record in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 9:11.74. His time is the fastest on the team this season.
• Travis Morrin set a personal record in the 1,000 freestyle with his time of 9:24.95
Women
• Victoria Mitchell tallied her fifth win in the 1000 freestyle this season
• Taylor Worrell set a personal record in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:53.88.
• The women’s 400 freestyle relay time of 3:26.22 is a season best.
• Patricia Kranz earned her sixth win on the one-meter this season.
QUOTABLE
Head swimming coach McGee Moody
“As far as the team goes I think we swam really well. When you break the two meets apart, the Missouri men are one of the top teams in the country, they have some of the fastest guys per event in the nation and that being said I think our guys needed to step up a little more today. They needed to be a little tougher and race a little harder and we’re going to work on that going forward. I want today to be about our women because this was a landmark victory for our women. Missouri was a top-20 program and our women took them all the way down to the last relay and then we had four young ladies who stepped up on the block and knocked it out of the park. I could not have asked anything more of our women’s program and coaches. Today was a great, great day for our women’s team and we’re extremely happy about it. Taylor Worrell was a standout all day. Her time in the 500 freestyle was really what allowed us to take the meet to the last relay. If she was one step back, we don’t get it done today. Her being able to finish that in a time that’s far faster than anything she’s done this year is a huge testament to her. We talked a lot during the break about getting to the wall first at whatever cost. No matter how bad it hurts you have to get your hand on the wall first and these girls did that today. As a coach, I couldn’t be prouder of our ladies and I hope they enjoy this.”
Head diving coach Todd Sheritt
“It was a great day for our women, that’s a great team (Missouri) and this was a great contest for us. It wasn’t easy, especially where we’re at right now. We did a lot of working coming back from break and they’re a little beat up but they really performed so I’m very happy. Patricia Kranz winning both boards is pretty outstanding and Julia (Vincent) definitely stepped up, she’s been coming along steadily. Julia did one new dive and she hit it, which was huge. Marissa Roth did great today too.”
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks conclude the regular season hosting Clemson (women’s diving) Vanderbilt, Queens and Wingate in a two-day meet Jan. 23-24.
