South Carolina Sets Four Records on Final Day of Gamecock Invitational
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina swimming team concluded their midseason invitational on a high note, setting two school and three pool records on the final session of the meet. The women’s program put up 1,551.50 points to top University of North Carolina and win the meet for the third consecutive year. The men’s program finished with 1,035 points which put them in third place.
Swimming – Gamecock Invitational
Madison Kolessar set the tone early of the final night session of the meet with an impressive 1650 free swim, dominating the A final heat by touching first in a school record time of 16:12.57. Freshman Nora Fluck took second in the event with the fourth fastest time in program history of 16:18.39 while Emma Reiser swam a 16:23.29 which ranks seventh all-time to complete a Gamecock sweep for third place..
Connor Fry carried on the momentum from the women’s 1650, out touching Tampa’s Jacob Hamlin by .05 to win the event with a new best time of 14:52.97. Raymond Prosinski joined Fry on the podium, touching the wall third with a time of 15:08.14.
Amy Riordan earned her second individual first place finish of the meet in the 200 back, setting a new pool record after swimming a 1:52.89 which was nearly two seconds faster than her prelims time. Faith Khoo swam a 1:56.27 for fourth place followed by Pia Murray in sixth with a 1:57.21.
Kaden Smesko dropped over one second from his prelims time to claim the win, narrowly defeating Tarheel JT Schmid by .01. The Gamecock set a new pool and school record, swimming a 1:41.55. Wylie Kruse finished in fourth with a season best 1:44.03.
Dylan Scholes prevented a UNC sweep in the 100 free, placing second with a season best 49.38. Ellery Ottem was the other Gamecock under 50 seconds in the race, clocking a 49.98 for fifth place.
Quinn Buck competed in the A finals of the men’s 100 free, touching the wall in ninth place with a 44.30. Kyle Korvick brought in points for the Gamecocks as well in the event, swimming a 44.92 to finish seventh in the B final.
Delaney Franklin saw a third-place finish after clocking a 2:13.54 in the women’s 200 breast. Meghan Harnish finished right behind her in fourth place with a season best 2:14.17. Annaliese Streeter (2:14.60) and Caroline Kudela (2:14.80) placed seventh and eighth, respectively.
Liam Kerns and Linus Kahl took third and fourth respectively in the men’s 200 breast. Kerns moved up one spot from his seeded place after dropping a second from his prelims time, clocking a new best time of 1:55.14 which is good enough for third all-time in program history. Kahl clocked a season best 1:55.90.
Greta Pelzek continues to be undefeated in the 200 fly this season as she captured the event title, winning with a pool record time of 1:54.75. The senior finished three seconds ahead of the runner up and was the only swimmer in the event to split under 30 seconds for each 50. Jordan Agliano secured a fifth place finish with a time of 1:58.95.
Tommy Eaton made his way onto the podium in the men’s 200 fly, placing third with a new best time of 1:42.83 which moves him up to third all-time in Gamecock history. Gage Hulbert swam a 1:44.83 for seventh place which ranks 10th on the top-10 all-time list.
The women’s 400 free A relay wrapped up midseason with a second-place finish. The squad of Riordan, Peyton Curry, Ottem and Scholes clocked a 3:17.43 which is the sixth fastest time in program history.
Diving – UGA Invitational
Charley Bayer was the top finisher for the Gamecocks in the men’s platform, earning 243.90 points while Reagan Patterson was the women’s top performer for South Carolina after putting up a score of 195.45.
Up Next
Select divers compete at the USA Diving Winter Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana from December 7-15. Six Gamecocks then represent South Carolina at the CSCAA National Open Water Championships on the 15th in Miami, Florida. The whole team returns to action on January 4th for a dual meet with Virginia Tech at 12:00 p.m., hosted by the Hokies in Christiansburg, Virginia.
