Swimming and Diving . January 27, 2017

Gamecocks Shine on Day One of SC College Invitational

Jan. 27, 2017

Date: Friday, Jan. 27

Facility: Carolina Natatorium

Location: Columbia, S.C.

Name	Event	Time
Jordan Gotro	Men’s 1M Dive	339.00
Jack Smith	Men’s 200 IM	1:51.00
Tomas Peribonio	Men’s 500 Free	4:26.00
Nils Wich-Glasen	Men’s 100 Breast	54.04
Fynn Minuth	Men’s 200 Fly	1:45.69
Boland, Wich-Glasen, Minuth, Peribonio	400 Medley Relay	3:15.33
Julia Vincent	Women’s 3M Dive	328.40
Kersten Dirrane	Women’s 100 Breast	1:02.38
Emily Cornell	Women’s 200 Back	1:59.88
Emma Barksdale	Women’s 100 Free	50.99
Lingmann, Keith, Barksdale, T. Vincent	Women’s 200 Free Relay	1:34.40
Cornell, Dirrane, Branaman, Barksdale	Women’s 400 Medley Relay	3:45.72

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina swimming and diving program stood out on day one of the SC College Invitational to lead UNCW, East Carolina, Wingate and Queens on Friday at the Carolina Natatorium in Columbia, S.C.

On the women’s side, Julia Vincent won the 3-meter dive to remain undefeated on the season, Kersten Dirrane took first in the 100-yard breaststroke, Emily Cornell finished first in the 200-yard backstroke and Emma Barksdale won the 100-yard freestyle. The women also took first place in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard medley relay.

For the men, Jordan Gotro won the 1-meter dive, Jack Smith finished first in the 200-yard IM, Tomas Peribonio took the 500-yard freestyle, Nils Wich-Glasen won the 100-yard breaststroke and Fynn Minuth finished first in the 200-yard butterfly. The men also won the 400-yard medley relay.

South Carolina’s women lead East Carolina 111-56, Queens 122-42, UNCW 134-33 and Wingate 129-35. The Gamecock men lead Wingate 134-27, UNCW 135-31, Queens 111-50 and East Carolina 110-57.

QUOTING HEAD SWIMMING COACH McGee Moody

As a whole, I think today has been a really good day. We had some guys that were really sharp. We had some ladies that are dropping a lot of time, and that’s what we want to see right now. Coming into the last competition before we go into our championship season, they need to be dropping time and sharpening up their races. That’s what we saw today. I’m really happy with that.

I thought Emily Cornell was excellent in her 200 backstroke. I thought Heather Merritt had a really good day. Taylor Worrell had a really good 200 butterfly. Our seniors are having a great day today too. They’re all swimming outstanding, which is fun to watch because this is their last chance at home. They’ve worked really hard to leave their mark on our program. So to see them have success in their last dual meet is great.

On the men’s side, Fynn Minuth is lighting it up right now. That was one of the best 200 butterflies I have seen in a dual meet, let alone from him. He went a lifetime best today in a regular season meet, which is outstanding. We’re headed down a good path and I think we are going to be sharp for the next few weeks.

QUOTING HEAD DIVING COACH Todd Sherritt

This team had a solid performance today. Julia remained undefeated in the 3-meter for the dual meet season, which is quite a feat. Marissa Roth had a great 3-meter today, setting her up for a great conference performance. Jordan Gotro did some outstanding dives today for his last home meet as a senior. He performed a fantastic Reverse 2 Â½ Pike to capture the win on the 1-meter. We are looking forward to tomorrow.

MEN’S RECAP

Gotro earned a podium finish on the 1-meter board, taking first with a score of 339.00, with Lyle Markman finishing in fourth with a mark of 254.10.

The Gamecock men finished second in the 200-yard medley relay, then came back with a first-place finish in the 200-yard IM by J. Smith with a time of 1:51.00 and a third-place finish by Jeremiah Bohon after swimming a time of 1:52.24.

Peribonio placed first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:26.00, and Cody Bekemeyer finished next with a time of 4:28.77.

Wich-Glasen came in first in the 100-yard breaststroke after swimming a time of 54.04. Bekemeyer had the highest finish for the Gamecocks in the 200-yard backstroke as he finished third with a time of 1:50.41.

In the 100-yard freestyle, Jonathan Boland led Carolina with a second place finish after swimming a time of 45.08.

South Carolina went one, two, three in the 200-yard butterfly with Minuth in the lead after a time of 1:45.69, followed by Will Riggs at 1:50.59 and Akram Mahmoud close behind at 1:50.72.

The last race of the day was the 400-yard medley relay where Carolina finished first and fourth.

WOMEN’S RECAP

Julia Vincent got the Gamecocks off on the right foot, taking first in the 3-meter dive with a score of 328.40. Marissa Roth followed at second with a 302.20 mark and Mikaela Lujan coming in at third with a score of 287.30.

The Gamecocks took first and third in the 200-yard freestyle relay, then followed up with a second place finish in the 200-yard IM by Emily Cornell with a time of 2:05.75.

Heather Merritt led the Gamecocks in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing second in a time of 4:56.28, while Elizabeth Maltby took third following a time of 4:59.95.

Dirrane took first place in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.38.

South Carolina swept the 200-yard backstroke with Cornell in the lead after swimming a time of 1:59.88 to earn first place. Merritt came in second with a time of 2:02.69 and Langdale swam into third at 2:03.77.

Barksdale posted the highest finish for the Gamecocks in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.99, good for first place. Edith Lingmann earned a second place finish with a time of 51.41.

Marissa DelGado led Carolina in the 200-yard butterfly, finishing second with a time of 2:04.20. Taylor Worrell followed in third after swimming a time of 2:04.44.

South Carolina finished first and third in the 400-yard medley relay to round out the evening.

UP NEXT FOR CAROLINA

The Gamecocks hit the pool again tomorrow, Jan. 28 to conclude the SC College Invitational. Seniors will be recognized at 9:45 a.m., with the meet to follow at 10 p.m.