Tigers fall at South Carolina in Swimming and Diving

Oct. 31, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The swimming and diving team traveled to Carolina Natatorium for a Friday evening non-conference showdown with the Gamecocks, who pulled out a tough victory over the Tigers. Both gamecock squads picked up their first win of the season, while the Clemson men (1-3, 0-2 ACC) and women (2-2, 1-1 ACC) dropped the tough decision 178-119 and 171-128, respectively.

David Giambra got the Tigers off to a good start on the one-meter boards, recording a lifetime-best and school-record 318.60 to defeat the reigning SEC Diver of the Week, Corry Christian, who put up a 309.37. Giambra is now the school record-holder in both the one and three-meter diving events. Giambra would later add a win in the three-meter event with a season best 328.28, again edging Christian for the win.

On the women’s side, All-American Taryn Zack led a 1-2-3 finish for South Carolina on the one-meter boards, posting a 320.55. Stephanie Fura took fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Gamecock men responded in the 200 medley relay, taking first and second, as Kyle Cormier was able to hold off freshman Myles Oliver on the freestyle leg to take the win.

The Tiger women also came back from a 200 medley relay victory as the group of Kelli Kyle, Katrina Obas, Rachel Regone put in a 1:43.95, highlighted by Regone’s blistering 22.36 on the freestyle leg.

On the women’s side, a duel between South Carolina’s Chris Thompson and Clemson’s Cassy LaRussa came down to the final lap, as Thompson held off LaRussa by less than a second in the 1000 free, 10:00.96 to 10:01.90. LaRussa topped her season-best by seven seconds in the defeat. Sarah Smith took fourth and Mandy Snell fifth in the event.

In the men’s 1000 free, the Tigers swept the top three spots, led by sophomore David Gordon, who hit a season best by 12 seconds. Freshmen Will Clark and Alex Carr took second and third, with Clark hitting a new season and career-best 9:33.63

Michelle Parkhurst took first in the 200 free in a season-best 1:48.88, second best in the ACC so far this season. She was able to hold off Clair Thompson by 0.36 seconds. Summer O’Donnell put in a season-best 1:51.51 to take third as well.

In the men’s 200 free, Kyle Cormier pulled away from Clemson’s Dan Mengering after trailing through the half-way point. Mengering swam a season-best 1:41.92. Freshman Lee Groseclose picked up third in 1:43.20, a personal best. Scott Clary was also able to get under the 1:44 mark to take fifth.

Immediately following the 200 free, Kelli Kyle and Cara Lennon took third and fourth, with Lennon picking up a new career-best 57.57.

In the men’s 100 back, Carolina’s James Crawford came back from a deficit to come back and down Tom Recko, who put in a solid 51.36. Jason Chatlosh took fourth for the Tigers as well.

Katrina Obas took third in the 100 breast for the Tigers, with Elizabeth Savage taking fifth. On the men’s side, freshman Chris Dart took the runner-up spot, as he put in a 58.48.

Sophomore Meggie Mizelle led the Tiger charge in the 200 fly, taking the runner-up spot while Sarah Porri took third and fourth to pick up points for Clemson. For Mizelle and Bechard, it was a season-best showing. Gamecock Lindsey Olson took the win in the event.

On the men’s side, David Gordon returned to put in a season-best 1:51.85 to place second for the event.

In the 50 free, Rachel Regone continued her strong performances, winning in 23.10, the fastest in the ACC in 2008-09. Lauren Sindall took second in 23.52, while Caitlin Seed took fifth in 24.10. Regone picked up another win in the 100 free, swimming a season-best 51.25.

In the men’s 50 free, senior Dan Mengering stepped up, putting in a career-best 20.85 on the board for a big win. Freshman Myles Oliver took third with a career-best 21.45. Mengering then competed in the 100 free, but was unable to track down Cormier, who finished first. Mengering’s 46.23 was a season-best time for the Rockville, MD swimmer.

Freshmen Maddie Tarantolo and Sarah Bechard gave great efforts in the 100 fly, but were unable to catch Olson, who picked up her second win on the afternoon.

In the 500 free, Cassy LaRussa took fourth for the Tigers.

Freshman Will Clar kept the Tigers alive with a career-best 4:35.88 in the 500 free, while fellow freshman Alex Carr placed third.

Kelli Kyle took third and fourth, respectively, in the event.

The Gamecocks clinched the meet on the men’s side when they took 1-2-3 in the 200 IM and on the women’s side, also in the 200 IM with a 1-2 finish. Although the Tigers took 3-4-5, the points were enough to clinch the meet.

Clemson will return to action when they travel to Blacksburg for a dual meet with nationally-ranked Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 8.