Dec. 10, 2014
The South Carolina swimming and diving team wrapped up a successful fall season with a pair of third-place finishes at the Virginia Tech Invitational. The men are 3-1 and currently ranked 18th in the Collegiate Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) poll and the women are 5-1 on the year.
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.
The Gamecocks have a combined 34 top-10 times in school history so far this season.
Top-10 times set this season:
Jonathan Boland – 100 and 200 backstroke
Kersten Dirrane – 100 breaststroke
Ashleigh Ferguson – 100 backstroke
Ellen Johnson – 100 and 200 breaststroke
Annika Jonsson – 500 freestyle
Bryce Kananowicz – 100 backstroke and 400 IM
Kevin Leithold – 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke
Heather Merritt – 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 200 IM
Victoria Mitchell – 500 and 1000 freestyle and 400 IM
Tomas Peribonio – 500, 1000, 1650 freestyle and 400 IM
Meredith Vay – 50, 100 and 200 freestyle
Charlotte Ward – 1650 freestyle
Nils Wich-Glasen – 100 and 200 breaststroke and 200 IM
MAKING THE CUT
Nine Gamecock swimmers have combined for 26 NCAA provisional cuts in 10 different events throughout the fall.
Gamecocks with NCAA B cuts this season:
Jonathan Boland – 100 and 200 backstroke
Marwan El Kamash – 200 and 500 freestyle
Bryce Kananowicz – 400 IM
Kevin Leithold – 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 IM
Heather Merritt – 200 IM
Victoria Mitchell – 400 IM
Tomas Peribonio – 1650 freestyle and 400 IM
Meredith Vay – 100 freestyle
Nils Wich-Glasen – 100 and 200 breaststroke, 200 and 400 IM
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.
NO. 1
Freshman Julia Vincent still owns the highest score (377.85) in three meter diving in the SEC this season. Vincent earned the mark on Oct. 31 against Florida Gulf Coast. Patricia Kranz’s score of 360.07 ranks second and Lamendola’s score of 354.25 ranks fourth.
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
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. Wich-Glasen owns three times that rank in the top-10 in school history. 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
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.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Freshman Tomas Peribonio is the Gamecocks’ top performer this season in both the 1000 and 1650 freestyle. His personal record of 15:18.03 in the 1650 freestyle currently ranks 10th in the SEC while his best times in the 500 and 1000 freestyle rank 15th and 16th, respectively.
Senior Victoria Mitchell is the top performer on the women’s side in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle. Her personal record of 9:57.92 in the 1000 freestyle is the 10th fastest in the SEC this season.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Gamecocks are back in action on Jan. 3 as they host Georgia at Carolina Natatorium. South Carolina travels to Durham, N.C. on Jan. 10 to face Duke and Harvard before returning home for conference action against Missouri on Jan. 17. The Gamecocks conclude the regular season hosting Vanderbilt, Queens and Wingate in a two-day meet Jan. 23-24.
