Gamecocks Finish 10th at Men's SEC Championship
Rafael Davilia paced Carolina in the final session finishing 15th in the 1650 free
COLUMBIA, Mo. — South Carolina finished 10th at the 2021 SEC Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship on Friday night. The Gamecocks had a trio of finalists for the final session of the conference meet.
Rafael Davila had the team’s highest finish, taking 15th in the 1650 free with a season-best time of 15:31.44.
Mark Shperkin finished 19th in the C-final of the 100 free after swimming a season-best time of 43.52. Jordan Yip Zhu Ern was also a C-finalist in the 200 breast for Carolina. He swam a season-best time of 1:57.29 to finish 20th.
The 400 free relay team of Shperkin, Phil Costin, Guy Gropper and AJ Ross were DQ’d for leaving early on one of the legs.
No. 5 Florida won its ninth-straight team title, narrowly edging No. 4 Georgia.
2021 Men’s SEC Swimming and Diving Championship Gamecock Results
500 Free
22. Rafael Davila – 4:22.75p, 4:22.25f
25. Tamas Novoszath – 4:22.77
200 IM
38. Chase Allison – 1:48.69
42. Jordan Yip Zhu Ern – 1:49.50
44. Ben Fenwick – 1:49.65
51. Drew Grespin – 1:57.09
50 Free
13. Guy Gropper – 19.71p, 19.70f ((fifth-fastest in Carolina History)
28. AJ Ross – 20.06
29. Mark Shperkin – 20.10
30. Phil Costin – 20.14
52. Robbie Epler – 20.86
53. Luke Massey – 21.05
400 IM
29. Chase Allison – 3:57.55
100 Fly
23. Guy Gropper – 47.55p, 47.73f
34. Jordan Yip Zhu Ern – 48.09
35. AJ Ross – 48.24
37. Ben Fenwick – 48.59
39. Mark Shperkin – 48.73
40. Robbie Epler – 48.99
200 Free
19. Tamas Novoszath – 1:36.29p, 1:36.20f
24. Phil Costin – 1:36.38p, 1:38.46
28. Rafael Davila – 1:37.06
100 Breast
16. Luke Massey – 52.93p (fourth-fastest in Carolina history), 53.64f
34. Andrew Grespin – 55.93
1650 Free
##. Rafael Davila – ##
100 Free
19. Mark Shperkin – 43.66p, 43.52f
27. Phil Costin – 43.92
31. Guy Gropper – 44.08
32. AJ Ross – 44.10
49. Tamas Novoszath – 45.15
50. Robbie Epler – 45.95
200 Breast
20. Jordan Yip Zhu Ern – 1:57.69p, 1:57.29f
28. Luke Massey – 2:00.47
30. Chase Allison – 2:03.21
31. Andrew Grespin – 2:03.87
200 Fly
27. Ben Fenwick – 1:47.70
200 Medley Relay
9. Guy Gropper (back, 21.82), Luke Massey (breast, 23.76), Jordan Yip Zhu Ern (fly, 21.38), AJ Ross (free, 19.14) – 1:26.10 (fourth-fastest in program history)
800 Free Relay
9. Tamas Novoszath (1:35.35), Rafael Davila (1:36.29), Chase Allison (1:37.52), Phil Costin (1:37.19) – 6:26.35 (ninth-fastest in program history)
200 Free Relay
6. AJ Ross (19.84), Guy Gropper (19.36), Phil Costin (19.28), Mark Shperkin (19.00) – 1:17.48 (second-fastest all-time at Carolina)
400 Medley Relay
9. Guy Gropper (back, 48.84), Luke Massey (breast, 52.43), Jordan Yip Zhu Ern (fly, 48.02), Mark Shperkin (free, 42.78) – 3:12.07 (eighth-fastest in program history)
400 Free Relay
DQ
Men’s 1-meter diving (six dives)
21. Alex Claus (281.35)
Men’s 3-meter diving (six dives)
21. Alex Claus (287.80)
Men’s Platform (six dives)
23. Alex Claus (226.65)
2021 Men’s SEC Swimming and Diving Team Standings
1. Florida – 1,401
2. Georgia – 1,324.50
3. Tennessee – 850.50
4. Texas A&M – 843
5. Alabama – 841.50
6. Missouri – 802
7. Kentucky – 759
8. Auburn – 671
9. LSU – 427.50
10. South Carolina – 232
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