Ohio State Sweeps Alabama to Open Season

Photo Courtesy: Kara Sekenski

The Ohio State swimming & diving team opened the season with a victory for both the men and women’s teams against Alabama on Thursday night at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The Buckeye women took down the Crimson Tide, 181-119, and the men were victorious with a tally of 156-144.

The diving crew went one-two-three on each board for both the men and women’s teams. Lara Tarvit, Genevieve Angerame and Lexie Barker led the way on the women’s side, while Jacob Siler, Jacob Fielding, Joseph Canova and Aaron Daniels-Freeman highlighted the men’s effort.

Alabama’s men won both relays and eight of 12 individual races against the Buckeyes. Junior Daniel Kober won both the 500 and 1,000 freestyles while fellow junior Zane Waddell won the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. Seniors Robert Howard (200 freestyle) and Laurent Bams (100 breaststroke) along with freshmen Spencer Walker (200 backstroke) and Nicholas Perera (200 individual medley) also picked up individual wins.

Waddell, Bams, sophomore Tyler Sesvold and Howard combined to win the 400 medley relay to get the day started while Waddell, senior Christian Arseneau, Bams and Howard won the 400 freestyle relay to close the meet.

The Alabama women were led by freshman Rhyan White, who won three individual races on the day — the 100 and 200 backstrokes and the 100 butterfly. Fellow rookie Kensey McMahon won the 1,000 freestyle while senior Justine Macfarlane took first in the 200 breaststroke.

COACH DORENKOTT SOUND BITES

“Every journey begins with a step, and that’s all this was. It was the first step. It gives us a little bit of a sense of where we are. It definitely gives us some things to work on. We didn’t do a lot to prepare for the meet. We’re still doing quite a bit of long course training. Our focus has been in the weight room and on dry land. We’ve been hitting the legs pretty good, kicking-wise, and it showed today.

That being said, we have a ton of respect for the Alabama program, head coach Dennis Pursley and his staff. It’s a great team to race and it brings out the best in us, so we’re thankful for them coming up.”

“I said to the guys, let’s be clear – we won that meet because of diving. Tip of the cap to Justin (Sochor) and our diving crew, especially on the men’s side. We 1-2-3’d them on both boards, and we had a sense that might be the kind of meet it was, and it turned out to be that type of meet, so it was a complete effort and we’re fortunate to come away with a win.”

HOW IT HAPPENED – WOMEN’S TEAM

• The Ohio State women got off to a fast start with a win in the 400 Medley Relay. Rebekah Bradley, Hanna Gresser, Kathrin Demler and Freya Rayner teamed up to take the win with a time of 3:41.63.

• Demler followed that up with a big swim in the 200 Free, claiming first and clocking in at a time of 1:49.09. Mikayla Murphy followed in second, swimming a career-best time of 1:50.65.

• Bradley and Marianne Kahmann went one-two in the 100 Back, clocking in at 55.05 and 55.40, respectively.
• Gresser took a win in the 100 Breast, finishing with a time of 1:02.32.
• A dominant 200 Fly crew was led by Katie Trace, who won the race with a time of 2:01.44. Demler finished third (2:04.10), Natalia Jaspeado took fourth (2:05.07) and Nicole Fye placed fifth (2:05.23).

• Rayner continued with outstanding, first-place performances in both the 50 Free (22.97) and the 100 Free (50.65).

• Lexie Barker, Lara Tarvit and Genevieve Angerame went one-two-three on the three-meter board. Barker posted a score of 305.70 to claim the win.

• Molly Kowal pulled off the win in the 500 Free, clocking in at 4:54.49.
• Demler picked up another victory in the 200 IM, finishing with a time of 2:02.92. Gresser was the next Buckeye to finish, placing third with a time of 2:05.73.

• On the one meter board, OSU claimed the top three finishes again. This time, Lara Tarvit was the winner with a score of 241.58.

• Finishing out the evening, Taylor Petrak, Trace, Maria Coy and Rayner claimed a win in the 400 Free Relay with a time of 3:23.12.

HOW IT HAPPENED – MEN’S TEAM

• Henrique Painhas claimed a win in the 200 Fly, posting a time of 1:48.04.

• Freshman Ruslan Gaziev swam an impressive first meet as a Buckeye, winning the 50 Free with a time of 20.19.

• Gaziev also won the 100 Free, posting a B cut time of 43.79 in the race.

• The men’s diving squad dominated on the three-meter board, with Jacob Siler in first (413.85), Jacob Fielding in second (413.78) and Joseph Canova in third (384.75).
• Freshman Jason Mathews took the win in the 200 Breast, finishing with a time of 2:01.88 and was followed by Paul DeLakis in second with a time of 2:02.23.
• The Buckeyes went two-three-four in the 100 Fly, led by Painhas with a time of 48.53. Lense placed second, posting a time of 48.61 and Michael Salazar took third, clocking in at 48.83.

• OSU took the top three finishes on the one-meter board, led by Jacob Fielding with a score of 363.83 in his first meet as a Buckeye. Aaron Daniels-Freeman followed in second (333.30) and Jacob Siler placed third (327.60).

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Ohio State and Alabama. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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Thomas A. Small

5 years ago

Congratulations