PRESS RELEASE: Hokies Earn Third Consecutive Dual Meet Sweep

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. January 21. SEVEN different Hokies won multiple events as the Virginia Tech swimming and diving teams earned their third straight dual meet sweep Saturday at West Virginia. The Hokie women set four WVU Natatorium records en route to a dominating 148-88 triumph, while the men used a sweep in the 200-yard freestyle to springboard a 125-112 win over the Mountaineers.

"Our depth proved to be the difference today," Virginia Tech head coach Ned Skinner said. "Hats off to West Virginia; they're very well coached and they competed well today."

Sophomore Scott Hudson (Springfield, Va.) won both diving events, including a score of 268.50 off the 1-meter board. Senior Neil Savage (Roswell, Ga.), junior Gus Calado (Recife, Brazil), sophomores Scott Beard (Chesterfield, Va.) and Zac Czaplicki (North Haven, Conn.), also chipped in event victories for Tech.

Calado, who touched the wall first in the 1,000 freestyle, posted a season-best time of 9:33.77 in the event. He also chipped in second-place finishes in the 200 butterfly and 500 free.

Czaplicki led the charge in the Hokies' best event of the day. The sophomore's time of 1:40.26 earned him the top place in the 200 free. Teammates Savage and John Riley (Oak Ridge, N.C.) finished second and third respectively in one of three events where the Hokie men swept the top three places. The other two were diving events.

"Scott Beard and Zac Czaplicki should be commended for their wins today," Skinner said. "They were both very productive, and that helped us secure the win."

On the women's side, Laura Lunn (Regina, Sask.) set WVU natatorium records in 1-meter and 3-meter diving. Her score of 267.90 on the 1-meter board missed setting a career-high by less than 2 points. Lunn led a Hokie effort that saw the team place first in 11 of the 13 events.

Junior Mason Walsh (Herndon, Va.) set a pool record in the 50 free with a time of 23.10, which earned her another NCAA 'B' cut in the event. While the Hokies' 400 medley relay team of Talita Ribeiro (Sao Paul, Brazil), Millie Campbell (Richmond, Va.), Megan Newell (Ashburn, Va.) and Sara Smith (McGaheysville, Va.) set a pool record in their event as well.

Sophomore Beth Byrum (Spring, Texas) and freshman Allison Luttermoser (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) each claimed a pair of event victories for the Hokies. Byrum won both the 1,000 and 500 free events. While Luttermoser, who also won two events against Marshall earlier this season, won the 200 free and 200 backstroke. Her time of 2:05.26 in the 200 backstroke was a season-best for the freshman.

"Both Allison Luttermoser and Megan Newell emerged as future premier swimmers today," Skinner said.

The Tech women improved to 8-2 on the season, while the men move to 4-5 overall.

The Hokies' next meet will be Saturday, Jan. 28, when the teams host Pittsburgh at noon at War Memorial Pool.

"We are at a point in our season where we need to spring forward into every meet," Skinner said. "Today was a good step that prepares us for next weekend against Pittsburgh."

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