ACC Weekly Recap: Virginia Splits With Tennessee; Gators Sweep FSU

Virginia's Jen Marrkand -- Photo Courtesy: University of Virginia Athletics

This week in ACC swimming action, the University of Virginia Cavaliers traveled to Tennessee while Florida State visited in-state rival Florida. Read about what happened in those meets below.

Virginia at Tennessee

The Virginia Cavaliers dominated the women’s meet against Tennessee, coming out ahead 177 to 123, while the UVA men failed to keep pace with the Volunteers, falling by a final score of 198 to 100.

Seniors Caitlin Cooper and Jen Marrkand each put together strong meets for the Cavaliers. Cooper swept the 50 (22.35) and 100 free (49.40), while Marrkand came out comfortably on top in the 200 fly (1:57.61) while also winning the 500 free (4:50.64).

Morgan Hill took first in the 200 free in 1:47.20, and Paige Madden won the 200 back in 1:56.57. Kylie Towbin placed first in one-meter diving (262.45).

Abby Richter, Vivian Tafuto, Anna Pang and Cooper finished first in the women’s 200 medley relay, touching in 1:40.47, while Virginia’s top squad also won the 400 free relay., where Hill, Cooper, Pang and Eryn Eddy finished in 3:18.17.

The UVA men only picked up two individual victories all day, with Brendan Casey taking first in the 200 back (1:46.67) and Matthew Otto winning the 200 breast (1:59.10). Otto also took second in the 100 breast (55.64), while Zach Fong was the runner-up in both the 200 fly (1:46.36) and 200 IM (1:50.69).

Florida State at Florida

The Florida State Seminoles were swept in a visit to their rival Gators Friday, with the women losing 184-116 and the men going down 209-91.

For the FSU women, Natalie Pierce picked up a win in the 100 breast in 1:02.08 and later finished second in the 200 breast (2:15.14). Madeline Cohen later won the 200 back in 1:58.26.

The Noles also picked up a sweep in the women’s 100 fly, with Tayla Lovemore (55.69), Leila Johnston (55.78) and Elise Olsen (55.80) taking first through third, respectively, and Blaire Mulka (318.00) and Ayla Bonniwell (316.43) went 1-2 in three-meter diving.

For the men, the Seminoles had success in diving, as Joshua Davidson swept both the one-meter (318.23) and three-meter (355.58) events. Tyler Roberge finished second in both events, and another Nole, Cameron Thatcher, was third on three-meter.

In swimming, however, FSU was not as successful, as Florida won every event contested. Among the highlights, Chad Mylin posted an impressive 19.75 for second place in the 50 free, staying close to Florida superstar Caeleb Dressel, while FSU’s Matthew Ankerholz was second in the 200 breast (2:03.49) and Will Pisani was the runner-up in the 100 fly (48.99).

Georgia Tech at Savannah College of Art and Design

The Yellow Jackets made the drive southeast to Savannah, Ga., where they won all but one event in a swimming-only meet against SCAD, a top-ranked NAIA school. The GT women won their meet 157-91, and the men picked up a 160-94 triumph.

In the women’s meet, Iris Wang picked up wins in both the 50 (23.80) and 100 free (51.22) for the Yellow Jackets, while teammate Florina Ilie swept the 100 (1:04.98) and 200 breast (2:21.16). Emily Ilgenfritz won the 200 fly (2:05.06) and 500 free (5:05.13), and Kira De Bruyn also picked up multiple top finishes, in the 200 back (2:05.06) and 400 IM (4:27.01).

Caio Pumputis led the way for the Georgia Tech men, touching first in three events: the 100 back (51.07), 500 free (4:37.87) and 400 IM (4:00.75).

Also for the Yellow Jackets, Moises Loschi swept the 100 (55.41) and 200 breast (2:01.81), while Noah Harasz touched first in the 50 (20.96) and 100 free (45.88). The other double winner for GT was freshman Christian Ferraro, who took first in the 200 fly in 1:48.08 before also touching ahead of the pack in the 100 fly (47.90).

Pitt at West Virginia — PPD

The Pitt Panthers had intended to travel to Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday for the latest edition of the “Backyard Brawl,” but WVU announced Friday that the meet was postponed due to mechanical issues. The meet has been rescheduled for Thurs., Jan 18.

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