Louisville Cruises to Women’s and Men’s Victories Against Cincinnati

Louisville's Haridi Sameh -- Photo Courtesy: NCAA Media

Louisville Cruises to Women’s and Men’s Victories Against Cincinnati

Louisville completed its dual meet slate Saturday with a pair of wins against the University of Cincinnati, the Cardinals’ former conference rival from their days in the old Big East and later the American Athletic Conference. The Louisville women won by a score of 201-82, while the men finished ahead by a 196-98 margin.

For Louisville’s women, Arina Openysheva came out on top with a pair of impressive times in the sprint races, including a 22.44 in the 50 free and a 48.82 in the 100 free, and she anchored a pair of Louisville wins in the 200 medley and 200 free relays. Paige Hetrick was first in the 100 back
(52.88) and 100 fly (53.14).

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Haridi Sameh continued his strong run for the Louisville men as he won the 50 free in 19.56 and then the 100 fly in 46.41, and he, too, anchored a pair of winning relay efforts. Denis Petrashov won the 100 breast (53.71) and 200 breast (1:57.09), and Nick Albiero captured first place in the 100 back in 46.15 in his last home meet at Louisville.

Read the full press release from Louisville below:

The No. 9/11 University of Louisville men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams swept visiting Cincinnati on Senior Day at the Ralph Wright Natatorium. The No. 11 Cardinal women won 201-82 and the No. 9 men won 196-98.

The Cardinals were buoyed by multiple event winners Arina Openysheva (200 medley relay, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay), Denis Petrashov (200 medley relay, 100 and 200 breast), Haridi Sameh (200 medley relay, 50 free, 100 fly, 200 free relay), Paige Hetrick (100 back, 100 fly), Gabi Albiero (200 fly, 200 free relay) and Nick Albiero (100 back, 200 free relay).

The women won their first event with a victory in the 200 medley relay. Tristen Ulett, Mariia Astashkina, Christiana Regenauer and Openysheva boarded a 1:37.33. In the men’s 200 medley relay, the foursome of Mitchell Whyte, Petrashov, Dalton Lowe and Sameh combined for the winning time of 1:25.28.

In the 1000 free, Liberty Williams led wire to wire, touching first in 9:45.83. Paige McCormick was second 9:53.08 for the Cardinals. In the men’s event, Cardinal Ilia Sibirtsev held off teammate Eli Shoyat for the win, with the pair going 9:07.14 and 9:08.58, respectively. John Bossler was third with a 9:17.81.

Alena Kraus took the win in the 200 freestyle, putting up a time of 1:46.21. Fellow senior Diana Dunn was second with a 1:46.81 and Madie Hall completed the sweep with a 1:47.51. In a tight finish in the men’s 200 free, Colton Paulson (1:36.66) just edged fellow senior Michael Eastman’s 1:36.85 for the win. Hayden Curley was fourth in 1:39.06.

Hetrick won the 100 back with a time of 52.88 just ahead of teammate Abby Hay’s 53.35. Tatiana Salcutan was third in 54.28 to complete the Louisville sweep. Fellow seniors Nick Albiero and Whyte dueled for top honors with Albiero edging out with a 46.15 to Whyte’s 46.89. Lowe completed the sweep with a 47.12. Nikos Sofianidis turned in a 47.21 as well.

Astashkina won the 100 breast for the Cardinals with a time of 1:00.28 just .02 ahead of Adeline Farrington, and Morgan Friesen was third in 1:00.73. For the men, Petrashov won with a 53.71, and Luke Shourds (54.36) was second, just ahead of Aidan Kreiley’s 54.58.

Gabi Albiero won the 200 fly in 1:55.47, and Ulett was second for the Cards with a 1:56.20. Cincinnati’s Michael Balcerak posted the winning time of 1:45.69 after pulling away from the field. Louisville’s Gustavo Saldo was second with a time of 1:47.42.

Openysheva boarded the fastest time in the 50 free, going 22.44, edging teammate Regenauer’s 22.62. Sameh won the men’s 50 free with a 19.56. Vlad Dubinin was second with a 19.93 and Caleb Duncan completed the sweep with a 20.22 for third.

After the break, Openysheva came right back and won the 100 free with a time of 48.82. Ulett was second in 49.54 and Kraus was third in 49.62. Freshman Fernanda Celidonio was fourth with a time of 49.97. For the men’s 100 free, Dubinin put up a 43.73, edging teammate Eastman (44.06). Paulson was third (44.57) and Kyle Worrell was fourth (44.58).

In the 200 back, Salcutan was first, putting almost seven second between her and the field when she stopped the clock at 1:56.44. In the men’s event, UC’s Hunter Gubeno turned in the top time of 1:44.20 for the win. Louisville’s Wylie Kruse was third with a 1:46.04.

Kim Herkle won the 200 breast for the Cardinal women with a time of 2:11.21. Friesen was second in 2:11.37 and Farrington completed the 1-2-3 sweep with a time of 2:18.93. In the men’s event, Petrashov stopped the clock with the winning time of 1:57.09. Daniel Sos phad the second fastest time in exhibition with a time of 1:58.44; likewise for Kreiley’s 2:01.25.

In the 500 freestyle, freshman Polina Nevmovenko finished under five minutes with a 4:49.50. Rye Ulett (4:51.06), Maddie Luther (4:51.49) and Maria Sumida (4:52.35) joined Nevmovenko under five minutes swimming in exhibition. Murilo Sartori pulled away from the field, posting a 4:21.13 in the men’s 500. Loktev had the second fastest time in exhibition with a 4:23.59.

In the 100 butterfly, Hetrick boarded the fastest time with a 53.14. Regenauer had the second fastest time in exhibition with a 53.31. Kelly Tichenor went 55.26, also in exhibition. Sameh was the men’s winner with a 46.41, with teammate Lowe touching second with a 46.96 in exhibition.

In exhibition heats of the 400 IM, Sumida posted a time of 4:19.27, and McCormick went 4:20.24. For the men, Sibirtsev turned in a 3:59.90, with Shoyat going 4:01.21 and Ryan Hogan going 4:03.23.

In diving, UofL’s Grace Leonard won the 1M board with a score of 265.05, just ahead of second place’s Else Praasterink’s 260.93. Riley Bullock was fourth in 249.38. UofL’s Che Stephens won the men’s 1M with a 345.08, with Kivanc Gur posted the second with a 328.65. Logan Smith was third with a 281.03 and Adam Sneden was fourth with a 274.13. In 3M, Praasterink won with a mark of 245.70 and Bullock (200.10) and Grace Leonard (204.90) dove exhibition. Daniel Pinto won the 3M for the Cardinal men with a 382.73. Sneden was second (332.18). In platform, Praasterink took top honors with a 245.70. Stephens won the men’s platform with a 345.08.

In the 200 IM, Hay put up a 1:57.68 as the only swimmer under two minutes. Astashkina put up the second fastest time in exhibition with a 2:00.05, just ahead of Rye Ulett’s 2:00.82. In the men’s 200 IM, Sos put up a 1:46.04 to win the men’s event.

In the final event, the Cardinals won the women’s 200 free relay with a pool record time posted by Gabi Albiero, Regenauer, Tristen Ulett and Openysheva, who combined for the time of 1:27.83. In the men’s relay, Sameh, Lowe, Nick Albiero and Eastman combined for the winning time of 1:17.68.

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