Sophomore Ralf Tribuntsov won the 100y back and 100y fly and led off a winning relay to lead the No. 12 USC men’s swimming and diving team to a 177-123 road win at Utah to close the regular season Saturday (Feb. 20) in Salt Lake City.
The Trojans improved to 8-2 overall, 4-1 in the Pac-12 and now turn their attention to defending their 2015 conference title.
Tribuntsov won the 100y back in 47.15, an NCAA ‘B’ cut and USC’s top time of the year in the event, and claimed the 100y fly in 47.79, the second fastest Trojan time of the season.
He also led off USC’s 200y medley relay that opened the action and was joined by freshman Carsten Vissering, Alex Valente and Kyle Grissom in a winning 1:28.28.
Vissering won the 100y breast in 55.42, edging Utah sophomore Jack Burton by 0.02 and Trojan teammate Steven Stumph by 0.11.
Valente, second in the 100y fly to Tributnsov, won the 200y fly in 1:48.69, 0.08 ahead of senior teammate Ted Singley. Singley later found himself in a tough battle in the 500y free against Ute seniors Bence Kiraly and Kristian Knox, finishing a close third in 4:30.47, less than two seconds out of first.
Grissom won the 50y free in 20.65 while fellow freshmen Patrick Mulcare won the 100y free (45.16) and Tim Wynter won the 200y back (1:47.35).
Stumph took the 200y breast in 1:58.59 with sophomore Jonah Hu third (2:00.97). Freshman Walker Bell was USC’s top finisher in the 400y IM, taking second in 4:00.36.
Seniors Deon Reid (359.03) and Collin Pollard (352.13) went 2-3 on 1-meter while sophomore Dashiell Enos led USC on 3-meter with 374.25.
The Trojans closed the meet with the quartet of Wynter, sophomore Jon Knox, Valente and junior Michael Domagala winning the 400y free relay in 3:01.47.
“This is always a tough venue to compete in but the Trojans did a great job quieting the Utes,” USC Coach Dave Salo said. “It was a balanced team effort with big contributions from Steven Stumph, Tim Wynter and Alex Valente with wins. Ralf Tribuntsov again held his own in the fly and back.
“I’m really proud of the effort on the part of the freshmen again stepping up and racing hard. We had a great swim by captain Ted Singley in the 500 free for third in a tough match against two of Utah’s best. Now onto the Pac-12 Championship.”
The Pac-12s are set for March 2-5.
Utah
Celebrating Senior Day and competing in its last dual meet of the 2015-16 season, the University of Utah men’s swimming and diving team was defeated by the USC Trojans, 177-123.
“This was a fun meet,” said Utah head coach Joe Dykstra. “Every time we go against USC, it is great time. I have such an inordinate amount of respect for their team and coaches. Dave [Salo] and I have grown quite close throughout the years and Ive known him since I was 12 years old. We go way back. This is always a competitive meet and we came up just short on the scoreboard. There were several touch outs but I am pleased with the overall performances. I think we saw some really strong times today and some good diving that will set us up well these next couple weeks for the conference championships.”
Bence Kiraly had an exceptional day by taking first in both the 1,000 free (9:11.89) and the 500 free (4:28.62). He has now won 16 of the 18 events he has competed in this season and finished as the runner-up in the other two.
Teammates Kristian Kron (200 free, 1:39.66) and Nolan Rogers (400 IM, 3:58.53) also took first in their respective events. Korn has now won seven events this year, but this was his first win in the 200 free.
In diving, Josiah Purss took first in both the one-meter (371.33) and the three-meter event (386.93). Jacob Crayne took second on the three-meter (379.50) in his final home meet.
The relay team of Paul Unger, Jack Burton, Kron and Sean Bloore took second in the 200 medley relay touching in at 1:29.29, one second behind the Trojans. Bloore (50 free - 21.34; 100 free - 46.54) and Burton (100 breast - 55.44; 200 breast - 2:00.63) would later take second in both individual events they competed in.
Another runner-up for the Utes was Daniel McArthur in the 200 back, touching in at 1:47.70. He also took fourth in the 100 back (48.80). McArthur entered today tied with Korn for the most-top five finishes by a Ute this season
Ben Scott took third in both the 200 fly (1:49.77) as well as the 100 fly (50.30), giving him 14 top-five finishes this year.
McArthur, Unger, Fernando Cervantes and Peter Kotson closed the event by taking third in the 400 free relay (3:05.61).
