NCAA Div. I: Georgia Splits Meet At South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Georgia men¹s and women¹s swimming and diving teams produced mixed results in their Friday night meet against South Carolina, as the Lady Bulldogs (4-3, 1-1 SEC) won 11 of 13 events en route to a 136-104 victory, while the men were on the short side of a 123-120 decision. It was the second meet in a row for the men that the outcome was determined by the final event.

The Bulldogs (3-5, 0-3 SEC) were leading 116-110 heading into the 400-yard freestyle relay ‹ last event of the evening ‹ after Kyle Salyards had won the 200-yard breaststroke. Georgia, who was without senior Jason Gagnon due to illness, took second in the final relay, and the Gamecocks finished first to pull out the three-point win.

We have had two heartbreakers to the No. 4 (Tennessee) and No. 8 (South Carolina) teams (in the Jan. 17, 2002 CSCAA Poll), said head coach Jack Bauerle. It was a great effort by our kids. We were without Gagnon and we had to do some filling in, and I think that hurt is a little. (The loss) is upsetting because we thought we had them.

We had some great swims on the women¹s side, added Bauerle. This group of seniors is a special group and we are proud of them.

Seven different Lady Bulldogs posted first-place finishes, including senior co-captain Stefanie Williams, who won both the 50-yard freestyle and the 200-yard backstroke events.

The women finished 1-2 in the 400-yard medley relay to get the meet rolling for the Lady Bulldogs. The foursome of Christine Keller, Virginia Pate, Maritza Correia and Katie Permenter touched the wall first with a time of 3:50.59. The team of Ashley Roby, Viki van den Barselaar, Neka Mabry and Paige Kearns followed in second with a time of 3:53.11.

Caroline Burns posted a season-best time of 10:00.49 to win the 1000-yard freestyle, while teammate Ali Williams finished second in 10:11.20, which was also a season best. Rebecca Rose took top honors in the 200-yard freestyle with a season-best and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:49.88. Mabry and Lindsey Ertter finished third and fifth, respectively.

S. Williams won her first event with a time of 23.56 in the 50-yard freestyle, and she followed that up with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 2:02.10 to win the 200-yard backstroke. Katie Yevak finished second in the event (2:03.32). Yevak picked up her first victory of the night, as the freshman led a 1-2 finish in the 400-yard individual medley. Yevak posted a time of 4:17.54, while Pate took second in 4:26.45.

Correia kept the wins coming as she finished first in the 200-yard butterfly with a B-cut time of 2:01.11, followed by A. Williams in second with a time of 2:04.04. Kearns, Burns, and A. Williams finished 1-2-3, respectively, in the 500-yard freestyle. Kearns¹ time was a season-best. Roby had the fastest time in the 200-yard breaststroke, and the 400-yard freestyle relays finished second and third.

Divers Brooke Bassham and Molly Purvis finished fourth and sixth, respectively, on both the 1-meter and 3-meter events.

(Stefanie) Williams was terrific today, offered Bauerle. She was a double winner and had a great split on the relay. Maritza also swam well for us.

The men came out strong with a 1-2 finish in the 400-yard medley relay. Robert Margalis won his first of three events with a time of 9:22.71 in the 1000-yard freestyle. Scot Davis and Brandon Cover finished third and fourth, respectively. Margalis took top honors in the 400-yard individual medley with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 3:48.61. The freshman rounded out the night by winning the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:26.14.

Margalis was remarkable, added Bauerle. He really had some great swims tonight.²

Other event winners include Marc Lindsay, who led a 1-2 punch in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:47.69, followed by Peter Osborn in 1:48.75. Salyards won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:02.34.

Randy Lam finished second to All-American Zsolt Gaspar in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:48.89. Brian Scannell and Davis finished third and fourth, respectively.

Diver Todd Avery finished second in the 3-meter event (306.90) and claimed third-place honors on the 1-meter (295.95). Kris Daugherty and Colby Carter finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in both springboard events.

The meet at South Carolina marked the regular-season finale for the men and women. Georgia will have two weeks off from competition to prepare for the 2002 SEC Championships hosted by Arkansas Feb. 18-23.

We have some kids coming on strong, Bauerle said, and we have a lot to look forward to.

Men¹s Final Score:
South Carolina 123
Georgia 120

Women¹s Final Score:
South Carolina 104
Georgia 136

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