Swimming and Diving Falls to Nationally-Ranked North Carolina Saturday

Jan. 12, 2008

Chapel Hill, NC – The Tigers fell to nationally-ranked North Carolina in Swimming and Diving on Saturday evening, but the women were able to edge Rutgers. The 15th-ranked men’s team edged the Tigers 168-132, while the women fell 204-96, but defeated Rutgers by a count of 214-80.

The men fall to 7-2, 3-2 ACC, with both losses to nationally ranked opponents. The women are now 4-6 overall, 1-4 ACC, with four losses to nationally ranked opponents. Both UNC team improve to 2-2, 1-1 ACC.

The men got out of the blocks quickly with the 200 medley relay group of Jay Crout, Andy Bergren, Adam Farnham, and Mark Vahle touching in at 1:31.05 to win the event. UNC grabbed second place, while the Tigers second unit took third. Then, in the 1000 free, Sean Geary, David Gordon, and Andrew Cunningham teamed up to take third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. UNC Freshman Tyler Kinderwater won the event in 9:07.17, a full twelve seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

Juniors Dan Mengering and Jay Crout took third in a fast 100 back event. Andy Bergren, Attila Ruszka, and Eric Lane finished first, second, and fourth, respectively. That trio then placed third, fourth, and fifth in the 200 breast. Tom Recko notched a scond place finish in the 200 back, followed closely by sophomore Matt Angelini.

The women competed against both Rutgers and the 10th-ranked Tar Heels. The Tigers took third in the 200 medley relay behind two UNC groups. Freshman Sarah Smith then put in a second-place finish in the 1000 free in 10:11.59, behind only UNC’s Whitney Sprague, who holds the ACC record in the 1000 free. The nest three finishers were separated by only twelve-hundredths of a second, with junior Cassy LaRussa taking fifth.

Senior Michelle Parkhurst picked up the Tigers first win of the day in the 100 back, touching in at an NCAA-B 55.57. Parkhurst later added her second win in the 200 back, finishing in 1:59.32, and NCAA-B mark, over two and a half seconds ahead of the second place finisher. It was the second time she has won both events in Koury Natatorium in the 07-08 season. Parkhurst swam the fastest time in the ACC in wins at the Nike Cup Invitational.

Sophomore Katrina Obas finished second in the 100 breast and the 200 IM, and freshman Elizabeth Savage took fifth and fourth in the same events. Freshman Meggie Mizelle placed second in the 200 fly. Summer O’Donnell and Smith placed third and fourth in the 500 free as well.

Junior captain Rachel Regone kept her undefeated streak alive in the 50 free winning in NCAA-B time of 23.24 over UNC senior Kelsey Morissy. Clemson junior Lauren Sindall clocked in just under 24 seconds to place fifth. Regone and Morrissy went head to head again in the 100 free, with Morrissy edging Regone by 0.15 seconds.

On the boards, senior Danielle Kazilionis qualified for NCAA Zone meet with a 277.00 on the three-meter boards. She also posted a 275.90 on the one-meter. On the men’s side, David Giambra and Marco Raye combined to finish third and fourth on the three-meter boards.

M UNC 168, CU 132

W UNC 204, CU 96

W CU 214, Rut 80