Swimming and Diving . November 15, 2023

South Carolina Women Dominate First Day of Gamecock Invitational

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina’s swimming and diving teams both completed their first day of action at their respective midseason invitational meets on Wednesday.

At home, the Gamecock women swimmers claimed first in all five events of the evening and set two new pool record in the process. The men’s team also put up a strong performance with a pair of second-place relay finishes and at least one top-four finish in all three individual events.

The divers at the Tennessee Invitational also had a successful day with three individuals making their way to the finals.

Gamecock Invitational

In the women’s 200 free relay, South Carolina’s ‘A’ team of Dylan Scholes, Aubrey Chandler, Peyton Curry, and Nicholle Toh combined for a time of 1:29.45 to win the event. Their combined efforts landed them as the third fastest team in the program’s all-time top-10. It was the women’s first relay victory of the season and also set a new pool record for the Carolina Natatorium.

The men’s highest-placing 200 free relay team of Mark Shperkin, Michael Laitarovsky, Quinn Buck, and Wylie Kruse combined for a time of 1:20.17, the team’s fastest time so far this season. Their time landed them in second place.

Amy Riordan continues to shine in freestyle events, claiming the win in the 500 free. Her time of 4:43.82 was a new personal best for the sophomore and jumps her up to second place in the program’s all-time top-10.

Riordan was followed by a trio of Gamecocks – Hayley Mason in second (4:48.65), Jordan Agliano in third (4:49.64), and Meaghan Harnish in fourth (4:49.92).

For the men, Raymond Prosinski, Jose Castro, and Connor Fry went 3-4-5 in the 500 free. Prosinski (4:21.96) and Fry (4:24.29) both swam new personal best times in the event.

Greta Pelzek and Annaliese Streeter completed a 1-2 finish in the 200 IM for the women with both Gamecocks swimming new personal best times – Pelzek a 1:58.36 and Streeter a 1:59.98.

In the men’s 200 IM, Wylie Kruse was the top-placing Gamecock in second with a 1:48.83. The time is the fastest on South Carolina’s team so far this season.

The Gamecock women earned a sweep of the individual events for the night with Chandler claiming the win in the 50 free with a time of 22.83.

Shperkin was the top performer for the team in the men’s 50 free, placing fourth with a 20.10. He was followed in fifth place by Buck who swam a new personal best time of 20.22.

South Carolina’s women set another pool record to close out the evening, this one in the 400 medley relay. Bella Pantano, Streeter, Toh, and Scholes combined for a time of 3:34.61 to lower the previous pool record of 3:35.22 that was set at this event last season.

The Gamecocks also claimed the second-place finish in the event as well with Riordan, Lien Yu, Pelzek, and Chandler swimming a 3:35.75.

The men closed out the night with a second and fourth place finish in the 400 medley relay. The ‘A’ team of Laitarovsky, Daniel West, Ahmed Rateb, and Shperkin placed second with a 3:12.11 while Ryan Hufford, Liam Kerns, Luke DeVore and Buck placed fourth with a 3:14.85.

South Carolina’s swimmers will be back in action on Thursday with prelims beginning at 10:00 a.m. and finals at 6:00 p.m.

Tennessee Invitational

South Carolina’s divers completed their first day of action at the Tennessee Invitational in Knoxville with three individuals making their way to the finals.

For the women, junior Blair Isenhour excelled, placing seventh in the prelims with a score of 297.50 to earn a second set of dives in the finals. In the finals her score of 268.25 landed her in 12^th place overall.

For the men, both sophomore Charley Bayer and freshman Max Spencer made their way to the finals. In the prelims, Bayer placed third (338.65) while Spencer placed 11^th (289.25) to secure their respective spots in the final round. From there, Bayer was able to retian his third place finish with a score of 328.20 while Spencer jumped up to ninth place with a 298.20.

Action at the Tennessee Invitational will continue on Thursday with the women’s platform event and the men’s 3-meter event.

For all the latest South Carolina swimming and diving information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockSwmDive).

Tennessee Invitational Day 1 Results

Women’s 3-meter

Prelims

7 – Blair Isenhour – 297.50

28 – Mak Blake – 241.60

42 – Josie Matalone – 182.70

Finals

12 – Blair Isenhour – 268.25

Men’s 1-meter

Prelims

3 – Charley Bayer – 338.65

11 – Max Spencer – 289.25