Western Kentucky vs. Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, Georgia, November 3.THE Western Kentucky University men's swimming and diving program needed to win the last event of the meet – for the second straight week – to claim a victory over Georgia Tech at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. The Hilltoppers used the same four members of the 400 Free Relay as they did last weekend in Greg Gerum, Lukasz Herbst, Brian Lewis, and Francis Gilmore. The relay team claimed the win in just over 0.3 seconds as WKU went on to win the event 126-117.

The Lady Toppers fell to the Yellow Jackets 135.5-107.5

"Francis Gilmore was actually a slight bit behind with 25 yards to go in the race and just kicked it into another gear for the victory," head coach Bruce Marchionda said. "It was just a total team effort today and one that almost gave me a heart attack."

The Toppers (5-0) swept the top three spots in two individual events. On just the fourth race of the afternoon, WKU took home first through third place in the 1000 Free. Sean Penhale took first in 9:33.35, followed by Gerum in 9:40.64, and Sean Shannon finished close behind in 9:42.95. The Hilltoppers also won the first three spots in the 200 Fly. Lewis came in first in 1:52.77, Endi Babi was second in 1:52.84, and Wes Brown clocked in for third in 1:54.00.

Penhale also was victorious in the 500 Free (4:38.34) while Lewis was the other Topper two-time winner in the 200 IM (1:54.06)

"On paper we were not expected to win the 200 IM and the 500 Free," Marchionda said. "However, Brian Lewis and Sean Penhale really stepped up and claimed big victories."

Other winners for the Toppers included Herbst in the 100 Free (46.48) and Gilmore in the 200 Back (1:52.35).

The Lady Toppers lost for the first time on the season and their record fell to 4-1 while Georgia Tech improved to 4-3 overall.

"The women did a great job and won a lot of events," Marchionda said. "Georgia Tech just outscored us in a few races and that was the difference maker."

Jessica Aspinall led WKU by winning the 50 Free (24.72) and the 200 Back (2:06.08). Brittany Doss took home first in the 200 Breast in (2:24.56). Also the team of Stephanie Terrell, Chelsea Stephens, Doss, and Jennifer Adams won the 200 Medley Relay in 1:47.33.

Krista Mantay claimed two second place finishes in the 1000 Free (10:27.47) and the 500 Free (5:05.35). Claire Donahue placed second in the 200 Fly (2:06.62) and third in the 200 Free (1:54.95).

"I was very pleased with the effort for both teams today and where we are at this point of the season," Marchionda said.

Special thanks to Western Kentucky for contributing this report.

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