Jan. 16, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. –
The South Carolina swimming and diving team is set to host Missouri in conference action on Saturday at Carolina Natatorium. Diving will begin at 11 a.m. with swimming slated to start at noon. This will be the first meeting of the two schools since Missouri joined the SEC.
MEET INFORMATION
Date/Opponent: Sat., Jan. 17, vs. Missouri
Time: Swimming begins at noon, diving at 11 a.m.
Location: Carolina Natatorium/Blatt P.E. Center
Admission: Free
Promotions: Local swimmers day, post meet autographs and double points for students
Meet Notes 
SERIES HISTORY
South Carolina has a 1-0 advantage on the men’s side, while the Missouri women the dual meet series lead 1-0.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
The Gamecocks and the Tigers have met in dual meet action only one time, on Nov. 5, 2010. The South Carolina men claimed a 181.5-118.5 victory over Missouri, while the women’s squad fell 176-124.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
The Missouri men enter this weekend’s competition as No. 8 in the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America rankings. The Tiger women have been ranked as high as 16th this season, but dropped out of the latest rankings (Jan. 15).
MAKING THE CUT
Nine Gamecock swimmers have combined for 27 NCAA provisional cuts in 10 different events.
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK
Redshirt sophomore Kevin Leithold and freshman Nils Wich-Glasen set school records this fall in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, respectively. Leithold posted a time of 53.36 at the Virginia Tech Invitational, shaving .21 seconds of his previous record time of 53.57. Wich-Glasen beat the previous record of 1:56.47, held by senior Alex Vance, by .49 seconds with his time of 1:55.98 at the Virginia Tech Invitational. Senior Cole Miller set a record on the platform (6 dives) with his score of 360.90 at the Georgia Tech Invitational.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Gamecock freshmen put together an impressive first semester as they account for 17 top-10 times in school history and five of the nine swimmers who posted NCAA B cuts.
WATCH OUT FOR WICH-GLASEN
Freshman Nils Wich-Glasen has quickly become one of South Carolina’s top performers. He posted the first NCAA qualifying time for the Gamecocks this season, with a B cut time of 1:58.49 in the 200 breaststroke against East Carolina and College of Charleston. In addition to his school-record in 200 breaststroke, Wich-Glasen owns two times that rank in the top-10 in school history (100 breaststroke and 200 IM). His season-best times in the 100 (54.71) and 200 (1:55.98) breaststroke rank 14th and sixth in the SEC, respectively.
LEITHOLD IN THE LEAD
Redshirt sophomore Kevin Leithold is the Gamecocks’ top performer this season in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. He has five times that rank in the top-20 in the SEC this season, including the fourth fastest time in the 100 breaststroke with his personal record of 53.36. Along with his school-record in the 100 breaststroke, Leithold owns four times that rank in the top-10 in school history.
BEWARE OF BOLAND
Sophomore Jonathan Boland is the Gamecocks’ top backstroker this season, posting NCAA B cut times in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. His personal-best times in both events, which he set at the Virginia Tech Invitational earlier this season, rank fourth all-time in school history and 13th in the SEC this season. Boland also recorded the fastest time in the 100 butterfly this season.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Freshmen Akram Mahmoud and Tomas Peribonio have quickly become the Gamecocks’ top distance swimmers this season. The pair owns the third and fourth best times in the 1,000 freestyle in school history, respectively. After only two meets, Mahmoud recorded the fastest time in the 1,000 freestyle for South Carolina and ninth fastest in the SEC this season with his personal record of 9:13.50. Peribonio is the top performer this season in the 1,650 freestyle and owns the second fastest time in the 1,000 freestyle. His personal record of 9:13.63 in the 1,000 freestyle currently ranks 10th in the SEC while his career-best times in the 1,650 and 500 freestyle rank 10th and 15th, respectively.
Senior Victoria Mitchell is the top performer on the women’s side in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle. Her personal record of 9:57.92 in the 1000 freestyle is the 10th fastest in the SEC this season. She also ranks 20th in the conference with her career-best time of 16:36.81 in the 1650 freestyle.
SHE HAS MERRITT
Freshman Heather Merritt leads the women’s team in the 100 and 200 backstroke, as well as the 200 IM and 100 butterfly. Merritt owns the second fastest times in school history in both the 100 backstroke and 200 IM. She also ranks seventh in the 200 backstroke and ninth in the 100 butterfly.
VAY MAKES A SPLASH
Freshman Meredith Vay posted the Gamecocks’ (women’s team) first time under 50 second in the 100 freestyle since the 2013 SEC Championships. Her time of 49.69, which she recorded on the first leg of the 400 freestyle relay at the Virginia Tech Invitational, ranks fourth all-time in school history and 20th in the SEC this season. Vay leads the Gamecocks in this season in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle.
SEC HONORS
Miller and junior Lauren Lamendola were named SEC Male and Female Divers of the Week after their performances against East Carolina and College of Charleston.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Gamecocks conclude the regular season hosting Clemson (women’s diving) Vanderbilt, Queens and Wingate in a two-day meet Jan. 23-24.
