Big Ten Friday Recap: Siobhan Haughey Tops Mallory Comerford in Rematch

Gabby DeLoof Siobhan Haughey
Gabby DeLoof and Siobhan Haughey Photo Courtesy: Dan D'Addona

By Dan D’Addona

The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women’s swimming and diving team won eight of nine events, jumping out to a 123-44 lead over No. 9 Louisville in the first part of a two-day dual on Friday.

Michigan’s Siobhán Haughey and Louisville’s Mallory Comerford, two of the top freestylers in the country, went head-to-head for the second consecutive week. Comerford won both matchups at last week’s SMU Classic, but it was Haughey who came out victorious on Friday, setting a new pool record in the 100-yard freestyle (48.23).

Michigan junior transfer Taylor Garcia got her first individual win in a Michigan suit, taking the 100-yard backstroke (53.77) ahead of teammate Gabby DeLoof (54.39). Both swimmers met the NCAA “B” standard. The team’s other transfer, Miranda Tucker, also got her first Michigan win in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:13.34).

The Wolverines occupied four of the top five spots in the 200-yard IM, led by senior Clara Smiddy, who continued her hot start to the season with another win (1:59.78).

In diving action, sophomore Brianna Price recorded the Louisville’s sole victory of the evening, scoring a 261.45 in the 3-meter.

Purdue sweeps South Carolina

The Purdue swimming & diving teams combined for 20 event victories in a home-opening dual meet sweep of South Carolina on Thursday.

The Purdue men were victorious 157-142 over the No. 16 Gamecocks after South Carolina’s victorious 200 freestyle relay team was disqualified due to an early takeoff in the final event of the night. The Boilermakers took a two-point lead into the final event despite having their victorious 400 medley relay team DQed to begin the meet.

Kaersten Meitz and Taite Kitchel teamed up to account for five of the Purdue women’s nine victories in the individual events. Meitz swept the 200, 500 and 1,000 free, winning the 1,000 and 200 in back-to-back events. Kitchel swept the butterfly events and nearly won the 100 fly and 200 individual medley back-to-back for the second week in a row. She finished to second South Carolina All-American Emma Barksdale in the 200 IM.

Marat Amaltdinov and Meitz both posted a pair of NCAA provisional-qualifying times (B Cuts). Amaltdinov out dueled fellow All-American Nils Wich-Glasen in both breaststroke events. Amaltdinov was victorious in the 200 breast by more than two seconds while posting the top time (1:57.01) in the nation so far this season.

Meitz’s 1,000 free time of 9:43.68 also stands as the best in the nation so far this season. Meitz, Emily Meckstroth and Emily Converse teamed up for a 1-2-3 finish in the event. The Purdue women also had the top two finishers in the 100, 200 and 500 free as well as both butterfly events.

Steele Johnson impressed in the diving well, sweeping the springboard events with a pair of scores that topped 450 points. Johnson posted list scores of 455.03 on 1-meter and 480.53 on 3-meter, improving on his winning scores at least week’s season-opening meet by 130 points in both events. He has swept the diving events at nine consecutive regular-season college meets.

Wisconsin, Northwestern fall to Georgia

The No. 4 Lady Bulldogs posted a 183-117 win over No. 12 Wisconsin and the No. 8 Bulldogs recorded a 168-127 decision over No. 25 Wisconsin. Both Georgia squads improved to 3-0 on the season.

Megan Kingsley, Danielle Della Torre and Courtney Harnish each posted two individual wins to pace the Lady Bulldogs. Kingsley swept the 100 and 200 butterfly races in 54.28 and 1:57.87, respectively. Della Torre took the breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 1:03.65 and the 200 in 2:18.89. Harnish claimed the 200 freestyle in 1:48.31 and the 500 freestyle in 4:45.72.

Olivia Ball won the 1-meter springboard with 291.38 points, Meg Finnon took the 1,000 freestyle in 9:56.15 and Kylie Stewart went 53.22 to claim the 100 backstroke. The 400 freestyle relay of Veronica Burchill, Stewart, Maddie Wallis and Harnish touched the wall first in 3:22.72.

James Guest and Jay Litherland both had two individual victories for the Bulldogs. Guest swept the breaststroke races with times of 55.34 in the 100 and 1:59.81 in the 200. Litherland stopped the clock in 1:47.40 in the 200 backstroke and had the meet’s fastest time (1:50.58) in the 200 individual medley.

Walker Higgins won the 200 freestyle in 1:38.25, Kevin Litherland placed first in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:28.95 and Greg Reed took the 1,000 freestyle in 9:10.14. The Bulldogs swept the butterfly events as Camden Murphy went 47.54 in the 100 and Mick Litherland stopped the clock in 1:48.88 in the 200. Javier Acevedo was first in the 100 backstroke (48.87) and Charlie Clifton won the 3-meter springboard with 376.80 points. The 200 medley relay of Acevedo, Guest, Murphy and Mick Litherland was first in 1:30.27.

Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson won the 200-yard backstroke.

Emmy Sehmann earned wins in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 free, and taking part in two winning relay squads.

On the men’s side, Tyler Zelen earned his first win as a Badger in the 50-yard freestyle, sprinting to a time of 20.89.

On Friday, the Bulldogs swept Northwestern.

 Javier Acevedo won three individual events to lead the Bulldogs on Friday. He claimed the 50 freestyle in 20.42, the 200 backstroke in 1:46.09 and the 200 individual medley in 1:50.85.

Clifton, Guest, Jay Litherland and Murphy each picked up two individual victories. Clifton swept the 1- and 3-meter springboards with 311.40 and 375.75 points, respectively. Guest won the 100 and 200 breaststroke races in 55.58 and 2:00.60. Litherland’s times of 45.55 and 1:39.30 were good enough to take the 100 and 200 freestyle events. Murphy swept the 100 and 200 butterfly races with times of 48.19 and 1:47.11.

Courtney Harnish won two individual events to pace the Lady Bulldogs. She took the 1,000 freestyle in 9:53.29 and the 200 backstroke in 1:59.10.

Stephanie Peters reached the wall in 1:48.63 to win the 200 freestyle. Meryn McCann went 4:51.13 to take the 500 freestyle. Maddie Wallis won the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.64. Georgia swept the butterfly events, with Burchill winning the 100 in 54.73 and Megan Kingsley taking the 200 in 1:58.31. Stewart stopped the clock in 2:01.79 in winning the 200 individual medley. Olivia Ball topped the 3-meter springboard with 316.65 points.

Michigan State tops Illinois

The Michigan State women’s swimming and diving team picked up their its Big Ten win against Illinois today. The Spartans won 162-136 in their first home meet of the season.

The 200 medley relay team of Cathryn Armstrong, Ana Sortland, Iana Wolff and Racheal Bukowski began the meet with a first place finish, clocking in at 1:44.11.

Big Ten Diver of the Week Morgan Wellenzohn won both the 3-meter and 1-meter dives with scores of 287.75 and 261.22, respectively.

Ana Sortland won the 100 breaststroke with a 1:03.45.

Emily Brunett took home a win in the 200 butterfly, clocking in at 2:05.39.

Racheal Bukowski won the 50 freestyle with a 23.69. Macy Moore picked up the second place finish in the same event with a 24.12.

Illinois sophomore Monica Guyett got things started for the Illini, finishing with a 1000 freestyle time of 10:25.70. Senior Samantha Stratford earned the victory in the 200 freestyle, touching the wall in a time of 1:49.60, while freshman Michelle McCord won the 100 breaststroke with a time of :56.41.

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