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Mountaineers Sweep Events on Day One of West Virginia State Games

The West Virginia University swimming and diving team won all 11 events on the first day of the fifth annual West Virginia State Games on Thursday evening at the WVU Natatorium.

The Mountaineers posted 11 first-place finishes and scored 39 top-five finishes in the nine-team event. WVU was joined by in-state foes Marshall, Wheeling Jesuit, West Virginia Wesleyan, Fairmont State, Bethany College, West Virginia University Tech, Davis & Elkins College and Alderson Broaddus University.

“It was a very strong night for both teams,” WVU coach Vic Riggs said. “Winning the relays and going 1-2-3 in diving definitely helped build a lead for the women going into tomorrow. The men were also strong and overall raced very well. Both teams had strong swims from upperclassmen and we saw some very bright spots from our freshmen.”
 
Senior Jaimee Gillmore won three races, two as part of relay teams. Seniors Andrew Marsh and Chase Williams earned individual and relay victories, while Marsh added a runner-up finish in the 500 freestyle.
 
Twelve events were held on the first day of the West Virginia State Games, but there was a disqualification in the men’s 200 freestyle relay, and the final heat of that event will be raced on Friday. WVU won all 11 completed events with five 1-2-3 finishes.

“The energy level was great tonight, and the teams were excited to start the season,” Riggs added. “Tomorrow is a long day and we’ll need to stay focused and make sure we prepare for each race one at a time.”
 
The West Virginia State Games concludes on Friday with the remaining 28 events at the WVU Natatorium. The day will begin with 14 swimming events at 11 a.m., and diving will be held at 2 p.m. The meet concludes with the final 12 swimming events at 4 p.m. The Mountaineers will look to claim their fifth consecutive men’s and women’s State Games titles.

The West Virginia State Games began on springboard, with the men’s and men’s 1-meter and women’s 3-meter. The Mountaineers swept the top five spots on 1-meter and took the top three finishes on 3-meter. Obendorf won the men’s 1-meter with a 296.85, followed by Logan McHenry with a 291.90 and Michael Proietto with a 286.55. On 3-meter, Calcut’s 292.40 was followed by Lindsay Schmidt with a 263.60 and Averly Hobbs with a 260.30.

In relay competition, WVU opened the swimming portion of the competition with a first- and third-place finish in the women’s 200 freestyle relay. Gillmore, Amelie Currat, Maggie Miller and Georgia Baldus touched the wall in 1:37.71. Marshall placed second in 1:39.80, followed by WVU’s Sam Hall, Mackenzie Braden, Mia Fiorenzi and Rachel Ward in 1:40.43.

The WVU women posted their third first-place finish in as many events with a win in the 500 freestyle. Emma Mitchell won with a 5:00.64 and Kelsey Frantz tied for third with a 5:07.50.

The men put together a dominant performance in the 500 freestyle and claimed each of the top nine finishes. Nate Carr led the way with a 4:37.71 followed by Marsh in second in 4:43.16 and Luca Fasulo in third with a 4:45.09.

In the women’s 200 individual medley, Marah Bieger turned in a first place finish in 2:09.35. She was joined in the top five by three other Mountaineers, led by Natalie Johnsen in third with a time of 2:11.85 and Loren Williams in fourth, just 0.15 seconds behind in 2:12.00.

The WVU men followed suit with another strong swim in the men’s 200 individual medley. Williams won with a 1:56.65 to lead the Mountaineers to a 1-2-3 finish. Max Spencer was second in 1:58.43 and Austin Green came in third in 1:58.93.

Gillmore notched her second win of the day, and first individual victory, with a 24.29 to win the women’s 50 freestyle. Ward was third with a time of 24.98, followed by Currat with a 25.01. Mitchell rounded out the top five for WVU with a 25.04 to place fifth.

It was more of the same for the men in the 50 freestyle, as the Mountaineers claimed first, second, fourth and fifth. Marsh won with a 20.90, followed by Ross Glegg in second with a 21.05. Carr was fourth with a 21.24.

The evening concluded with the 400 medley relay. Both the WVU men and women recorded a 1-2 finish.

In the women’s race, Courtney Miller, Emma Harris, Johnsen and Gillmore finished in 3:55.73, followed by Currat, Bieger, Maggie Miller and Mitchell in second with a time of 3:56.87.

In the final race of the day, the WVU men placed first, second and fourth. Marsh, Spencer, Chase Williams and Glegg touched the wall in 3:21.42 to win by nearly seven seconds. WVU’s Carr, Aidan Fumagalli, Nathan Howells and Frank Csonka touched the wall in 3:28.35 to place second.

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