Tigers Topped By Tar Heels

Jan. 16, 2012

CHAPEL HILL, NC – The Clemson Tigers were defeated by the North Carolina Tar Heels in men’s and women’s swimming and diving on Monday afternoon at Koury Natatorium. The men’s team fell 178-118, while the women’s team came up short by a score of 183-104.

The Tigers are now 4-2 overall (1-1 ACC) on the men’s side and 4-3 overall (1-2 ACC) on the women’s side, while both Tar Heel squads improved to 5-1 (3-0 ACC).

“We were happy with the results of the meet,” Head Coach Christopher Ipsaid. “The team was as competitive as we could be. There are only three more dual meet opportunities for the team so they are taking every race to heart.”

One of the highlights of the afternoon for the Tigers was Eric Bruck’s win in the 50 free. His 19.95-second swim was one-hundredth of a second faster than his previous best time of the season. Bruck also won the 100 free with a time of 44.80 seconds.

Chris Dart also poured in a pair of wins for Clemson in backstroke events. Dart won the 100 back with a time of 49.85 seconds and finished first in the 200 back with a time of 1:49.86. Harry Foster (49.94) and Seth Broster (50.03) finished first and second, respectively, in the 100 fly.

Alex Carr came in second place in the 500 free with a time of 4:40.78 and third place in the 1000 free with a time of 9:31.79. Shayne Buckley finished second in the 200 breast with a time of 2:10.17 and third in the 100 breast with a swim of 1:00.54.

Andrew Abeysinghe was the third-place finisher in the 200 back with a swim of 1:53.10. Abeysinghe (1:59.69) and Buckley (2:00.53) also finished in second and third, respectively, in the 200 IM. Chris Reinke placed third in the 100 free with a time of 46.41 seconds.

Meg Anderson swept the freestyle events against the Tar Heels. The junior was victorious in the 50 free with her time of 23.35 seconds, and she bested the rest of the field in the 100 free with a time of 51.12 seconds.

Kristen Redmond won the 500 free with a time of 5:04.53, almost seven seconds ahead of her closest competitor. Sarah Bechard (56.94) and Kelsey Krauss (57.63) finished first and second, respectively, in the 100 fly.

Elsewhere, in diving, Cassie Self came in second place in the one-meter with her score of 277.80, and Brooke George finished third in the three-meter with a score of 282.68. Kelly McGee (2:31.52) and Garrison Stevens (2:32.18) finished second and third, respectively, in the 200 breast.

Tori Cervone also came in second place in the 200 IM with a time of 2:09.71, as well as third place in the 200 back with her time of 2:07.95. Redmond was third in the 200 free with a time of 1:52.96. Alisha Cervone finished third in the 500 free with her time of 5:34.26.

Both teams also enjoyed some success in relay events. The women’s team of Anderson, Krauss, Bechard, and Maddie Tarantolo won the 200 free relay with a time of 1:35.65. The men’s team of Bruck, Reinke, Broster, and Dart prevailed in the same event with a time of 1:21.23.

Both teams also competed in the 200 medley relay, posting top three finishes. The men’s team of Dart, Reinke, Broster, and Bruck posted a second-place time of 1:32.00, just four-hundredths of a second out of the top spot. The women’s squad comprised of Ali Polhill, Tarantolo, Bechard, and Anderson finished third with a time of 1:47.66.

The Tigers will return to the pool on Friday, January 27, when they will take on N.C. State during a weekend excursion to Tobacco Road.