University of Louisville Swimming and Diving Split with Western Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, KY. February 5. THE University of Louisville swimming and diving teams split with visiting Western Kentucky Saturday night at Ralph Wright Natatorium. The women won 160-83 but the men fell 150-90.

"We broke WKU's women's two-year winning streak in dual meets,"
said U of L head coach Arthur Albiero. "It was a decisive win against a
good team. It is so rewarding to see how far the women's team has
developed. I am very proud of the girls. They came to fight and defend
their house. WKU's men's depth played a big factor today against us,
but all credit to them."

In the women's 400-medley relay, U of L's A team of Larissa
Niehoff, Heather Meng, Jennifer Schimenti and Melanie Greyling won the
opening event. U of L pulled ahead of WKU in Schimenti's butterfly leg
of the race. For the men, senior Jonathan Farnham held off a surging
Hiroaki Konno of WKU in the freestyle leg of the relay to put the first
11 points on the board for the Cardinals.

"It was a season best for the men for that relay team," said
Albiero.

In the 1000-free, U of L's Ashley Jackson was out -touched by
WKU's Raichelle King, who posted a time of 10:13.84. Abby Miller
finished third to add to the Cardinal point total. In the men's race,
Western's James Campbell set a new pool record of 9:44.74 with teammate
Karl Swanson finishing second. Anthony Mason was the top finisher for U
of L at third.

In the 200-free, the Cardinals swept the top three spots, led by
Melanie Greyling, with teammates Leigh Smith and Amanda Taylor in hot
pursuit. For the men, Western's Graham Bailey edged Charlton Lawson,
who placed second with a time of 1:43.77.

In the 50-free, Johanna Nyysti muscled to a first place just
squeezing out Sam Sawzak. U of L's Emily Rabe was fourth for the
Cardinals. For the men, Lukasz Herbst set a new pool record with a tine
of 20.98. Farnham was second at 21.40.

In the 200-individual medley, U of L swept the top three places
led by Leslie VanWinkle who set a new pool record at 2:05.02. Abby
Miller was second and Heather Meng went third for the Cardinals. For the
men, U of L's Vali Preda easily outpaced the field for the win with a
tine of 1:52.57. Travano McPhee was second for Western.

In an exhibition of the 1650-free, John Bell was able to make
BIG EAST cut with a swim of 15.30.41.

Marianne Bradford edged teammate Sarah Sandroni in the one-meter
board with Katie Elder taking first to complete the U of L sweep. For
the men on the three-meter board, Robbie Lewis won 327.98, far
outstripping the competition.

"Last year we got swept in both boards by Western and it was a
great turnaround tonight, We wer not very happy campers last year, said
diving coach Mike Zehnder.

Sandroni won the three-meter board just edging out teammate
Marianne Bradford. Sandroni had 263.03 with Bradford posting a 258.75.
In the men's one-meter board, Robbie Lewis won with a 296.40.

"The biggest thing was our Katie Elder making her BIG EAST cuts
in both boards so it was a great meet for her," said Zehnder. "Sarah
Sandroni was just very consistent in the 3-meter to bring home the gold.
Robbie swept both boards so it was a successful night."

In the 200-fly, Abby Miller took an early lead, and held off U
of L teammate Jenny Schimenti for the one-two finish. Jennifer Johnson
was third for WKU. In the men's race, Brian Lewis finished strong for
the WKU win, with Kyle Peterson picking up a second for the Hilltoppers.
Tyler Smith was U of L's top finisher at third.

In the 100-free, the Cardinal women swept the top three events,
led by Leslie VanWinkle with a time of 52.19. Leigh Smith was second and
Johanna Nyysti was third. In the men's race, the Toppers' Lukazs Herbst,
wearing a body suit, was first at 45.60. Jonathan Farnham was second at
46.88.

In the 200-back, Western Kentucky's Jessica Aspinall powered to
a win with a pool record time of 2:02.78. Sam Sawzak was second for WKU
with Larissa Niehoff touching third for the Cardinals. For the men,
Andrei Teudean was first with a pool record 1:49.80 swim. Francis
Gilmore was second for WKU.

"Andrei won his leg of the relay and then took first in the
200-back. That was a lifetime best, unshaved and unrested," said
Albiero.

In the 500-free, Ashley Jackson was .24 behind winner Raichelle
King. But Melanie Greyling was third for the Cards. For the men, Karl
Swanson won for the WKU with Anthony Mason was second at 4:44.78.

In the 200-breast, Heather Meng won at 2:19.99 with Cassie
Fahrlender in second and U of L's Nyysti taking third. In the men's
200-breast, Vali Preda sped to a first place at 2:05.38 with Cameron
Brown in second at 2:13.23 for WKU.

In the 200-free relay, U of L's A team of Leslie VanWinkle,
Leigh Smith, Jenny Schimenti and Emily Rabe just edged WKU's by .06. In
the final race of the night, WKU took the top two spots.

The Cardinals honored their six seniors prior to the meet, in a
poolside ceremony as it was the final home meet for Mandy Lynn,
Stephanie Wyatt, Meg Densmore, Jonathan Farnham, Travis Gray and Matt
Lees.

"I am very proud of this senior class," said Albiero. "They
stuck around and supported me and left a huge legacy to be followed."

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