Oct. 9, 2009

Complete Results | Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina’s men’s swimming and diving team defeated an SEC opponent for the first time in three years as they downed Kentucky 160-140 on Friday afternoon at the Carolina Natatorium. The Gamecock women put together a strong performance, but dropped a 168-130 decision to the Wildcats.

The Gamecocks got strong performances where they most needed them – in distance and stroke events, and also in the diving well. Major contributions came from freshmen, particularly Bobby Cave, Michael Flach, Brooks Ross and Rylan Ridenour.

Cave, a native of London, won both his events in his initial collegiate competition. He took first place in the 100-yard breaststroke in 57.81 seconds, eking out a one-hundredth of a second victory over Kentucky’s Julio Vallette. He also led a 1-2 finish in the 200 breast, running away from the field in 2:03.51, three seconds ahead of teammate Armin Hornikel in second place (2:06.53).

Flach, who was the No. 91-ranked recruit in the nation when he signed with Carolina, lived up to his billing with victories in the 200 butterfly (1:51.45) and 500 free (4:33.78), a time faster than any swam by any Gamecock last season. He also picked up a second-place finish in the 200 IM (1:54.04). Ross got his first win in the 1,000 free with a time of 9:32.58, and finished third in the 500 (4:42.19).

Sophomore James Crawford, coming off a strong summer, pulled away early and never looked back in the 200 backstroke, touching in 1:50.77 to win by more than two seconds. He was second in the 100 freestyle in 1:40.35. Junior Dominique Lendjel made his return to the pool after missing the entire 2008-09 season with injury, winning the 100 backstroke in 51.37. He would also finished runner-up in the 100 fly (50.06).

The Gamecocks put the meet out of reach with a 1-2-4 finish in the 200 IM, with freshman Collin Kaden taking top honors in 1:53.29. Flach was second, followed by Andrew Atzhorn in fourth place (1:54.36).

In the diving well, Carolina got wins in all four events, with junior Taryn Zack continuing her dominance on the 1-meter board. She turned in a score of 312.30 to outpace teammate Courtney Forcucci (291.08), making her first appearance as a Gamecock. Forcucci would win the 3-meter event with a score of 315.90 with Zack third (302.10). For the Carolina men, Ridenour dominated the 3-meter board in his first collegiate meet, scoring 343.65 to outpace his nearest competitor by 52 points. He would finish second in the 1-meter to teammate Ryan Kuser, who turned in a score of 281.70.

Zack, Forcucci, and Ridenour all turned in scores to qualify for NCAA Zone competition, as did junior Allison Barr with a score of 283.20 in 1-meter.

For the Gamecock women, junior twins Claire and Christine Thompson swept the top spots in the mid-distance and distance events. Claire took first in the 200 (1:50.85), 500 (4:58.33) and 1,000 (10:08.49) with Christine second in all three events. Junior Megan Sparks got a win in the 200-yard backstroke, touching in 2:01.29, and she finished third in both the 100 back (57.39) and 200 IM (2:07.52). Freshman Haley Staubach had a strong showing in her initial collegiate event, earning second-place points in the 100 back (57.28) and 100 fly (57.14) and fifth place in the 200 back (2:03.96).

Sophomore Lydia Hackert earned her first career win with a 2:23.07 in the 200 breaststroke; she would finish fourth in the 100 breast (1:07.62).

It marks the first men’s SEC meet victory for South Carolina under McGee Moody and his staff. The last Gamecock men’s victory in a conference dual meet came on Oct. 27, 2006, also against Kentucky. Coincidentally, Don Gibb – now an assistant coach for the Wildcats – was the Gamecocks’ head coach at the time.

The Gamecocks will return to the pool next Saturday, Oct. 17, as they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a tri-meet with North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Action gets underway at noon at the Koury Natatorium on the UNC campus.