Jan. 24, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina’s swimming and diving team sent their seniors out in style Saturday at the Carolina Natatorium with a pair of convincing victories over in-state rival College of Charleston. The Gamecock men took a 159-126 decision (swimming exhibition in the last three events) and the women downed the Cougars 156-124 (last six events were exhibition).
The Carolina women improved to 5-3 on the season while the men are now 3-4 overall with one double-dual meet left in the regular season. The Cougar men dropped to 3-6 while the women moved to 4-10 on the year.
Senior diver Corry Christian made the most of his final competition in the Carolina Natatorium, setting a personal record and falling only three points short of the all-time South Carolina record in the three-meter competition. His score of 404.33 ranks as the best of his career and the third-best in the Southeastern Conference this season. Only Andy Bradley’s score of 407.40 in 2003 has been better in the history of Gamecock diving. Christian also took first in the one-meter event, scoring a career-best 369.90.
“To come within three points of Andy Bradley, that’s just outstanding,” head diving coach Todd Sherritt said. “He really had an injury this week, and he hadn’t practiced any front takeoffs all week. For him to do that today, that was pretty outstanding. We’re diving well. Allison Barr just keeps getting better, I’ve been very happy with her. Ali Lane did a great job today, she’s able to do 3-meter now so we’ll start working that next week.
“I’m pretty excited about today, we did what we needed to do going into next week (tri-meet with Georgia and Alabama). Next week will be good for us. It will be a good challenge, since we haven’t seen a lot of solid SEC teams yet other than Florida, and that was early in the season.”
Barr, the reigning SEC women’s diver of the week, turned in another solid performance in winning the one-meter event with a 324.38 and taking second in the three-meter with a 335.03. Helen Alvey was just a hair behind Barr in the one-meter, diving a season-best 324.00, and Taryn Zack finished third despite turning in her best score of the season with a 322.88. Zack took first place in the three-meter with a 358.13, her second-best performance of the year (also the second-best in the SEC).
In the swimming portion of the meet, the Gamecocks dominated from start to finish, turning in first-place times in all but four events. Senior Amanda Dunnigan shined in her final meet in Columbia, winning the 200 freestyle (1:52.35) and turning the top time in the 200 breaststroke (2:19.23). She also was part of the top team in the 400 medley relay. Kassy Kugler also made the most of her final home meet, winning the 100 freestyle for the first time this season with a time of 52.75. Kugler also helped both the 400 MR and 400 FR teams to first-place times, and took second in the 200 butterfly (2:07.76).
For the men, the seniors continued to make a great final impression. Nicholas Walkotten won the 200 backstroke with a 51.53 and helped the 400 MR and 400 FR teams to a pair of first-place times. Todd Weyandt took the top spot in the 50 free (21.40) and the 100 fly (52.22) and helped the 400 FR team to the top time in the race.
Kyle Cormier took a pair of second-place finishes in the 100 breast (1:00.12) – his first time swimming an event other than freestyle or individual medley this season – and the 200 IM (1:56.51). Steven Luckie took victory in the 200 fly (1:55.93) and third place in the 500 free (4:48.76).
Two other Gamecocks were honored prior to the meet. Christian Kata and Keith Dawley, both unable to compete this season due to injury, were recognized with their classmates in a pre-meet ceremony.
Other Carolina swimmers that turned in winning performances included Christine Thompson (1650 free), Meridith McKee (won 100 back), Kristina Delp (100 breast), Lindsey Olson (200 fly and 500 free), Dan Jackson (1650 free), James Crawford (200 free), Bridget Halligan (50 free), David Livsey (100 free), Megan Sparks (200 back), Chris Kelly (200 back), and Sharntelle McLean (100 fly).
South Carolina has one more regular-season dual meet before heading to the SEC Championships. The Gamecocks travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a double-dual meet with Alabama and top-ranked Georgia next Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m.
