Gendron, Lundstrom Lead White Team to Victory in Tennessee Intrasquad

“Today was interesting because we saw some people really rise to the occasion of a competitive swimming meet and then a couple really disappeared,” Tennessee head coach Matt Kredich said. “That’s good for us to see because it gives us a good idea of where we are in terms of competition. We’ve got some things to work on.”

Eight competitors across both teams won two events each.

That list includes a pair of early standout freshmen. Heather Lundstrom, who won the 100- and 200-yard butterfly on the women’s side, and David Heron, winner of the 500 and 1,000 freestyle competition in the men’s races.

Other multi-event swimmers include: senior Lindsay Gendron (200 free, 200 IM), junior Molly Hannis (100 breast, 200 breast), Samantha Lera (1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard), sophomore Sean Lehane (200 free, 100 back), senior Oystein Hetland (100 free, 100 fly) and Mauricio Robles (1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard).

“A few standout individuals included Jimmy Dagley, who’s really impressed us all year with his focus,” Kredich said. “Heather Lundstrom and David Heron both really took charge of their races, and that’s impressive as freshmen. Anna DeMonte was really tough, I thought, and Ryan Signorin. He was really consistent and really competitive.”

While they were defeated in the meet, the Orange squad earned more points than the White side in competitions leading up to the meet. These competitions involved traditional tasks including dry land training and weight room work as well as unique tasks like tug-of-rope in the pool and climbing a 5-meter rope suspended over the diving well.

“This was probably the best week of competition we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Kredich said. “I think we got pretty creative as a coaching staff with giving them opportunities to compete. For the most part, they rose to the occasion. It was a lot of fun. We found competition in a lot of different places.”

IN DIVING Robles was sidelined most of last year with injury, but he has returned to competition for Tennessee in a big way. The 2012 SEC platform champion has demonstrated his improved strength and skill so far this year on the springboards. He won both diving competitions lofty scores of 376.05 on the 1 meter and 410.78 on the 3 meter.

“He’s elevated his whole level of training, his whole game significantly since his injury in January,” Tennessee diving coach Dave Parrington said. “The biggest area has been his strength training, which is really starting to show on the diving boards. He’s looking after himself. Not that he wasn’t before, but his day-to-day training is exceptional.

“It’s a long season to go, but this is a really positive thing for him to be doing.”

Lera won both the women’s contests for the White team, winning the 1 meter in 306.08 and the 3 meter in 281.25.

ORANGE AND WHITE INTRASQUAD MEET
EVENT WINNERS
Women
200 MR: Orange (Solernou, Callahan, Cefal, McNeilis), 1:45.00
1000 Freestyle: Madeline Tegner, White, 10:15.84
200 Freestyle: Lindsay Gendron, White, 1:49.03
100 Backstroke: Christina Leander, White, 56.80
100 Breaststroke: Molly Hannis, Orange, 1:06.75
200 Butterfly: Heather Lundstrom, White, 1:59.52
50 Freestyle: Harper Bruens, White, 23.60
1-meter Diving: Samantha Lera, White, 306.08
100 Freestyle: Harper Bruens, White, 51.31
200 Backstroke: Anna DeMonte, Orange, 2:02.41
200 Breaststroke: Molly Hannis, Orange, 2:24.79
500 Freestyle: Lindsay Gendron, White, 4:55.40
100 Butterfly: Heather Lundstrom, White, 55.51
3-Meter Diving: Samantha Lera, White, 281.25
200 IM: Lindsay Gendron, White, 2:04.22
400 Free Relay: Orange (Finkbeiner, McNeilis, Griffity, Driscoll), 3:29.54

Men
200 MR: White (Lehane, Prono, Rairden, Thulin), 1:31.49
1000 Freestyle: David Heron, White, 9:24.39
200 Freestyle: Sean Lehane, White, 1:40.47
100 Backstroke: Jimmy Dagley, White, 50.33
100 Breaststroke: Bryce BeVier, White, 59.89
200 Butterfly: Ryan Signorin, Orange, 1:54.11
50 Freestyle: Oystein Hetland, Orange, 20.66
1-meter diving: Mauricio Robles, Orange, 376.05
100 Freestyle: Luke Percy, Orange, 45.17
200 Backstroke: Sean Lehane, White, 1:49.47
200 Breaststroke: Ross Dibblin, White, 2:07.90
500 Freestyle: David Heron, White, 4:34.71
100 Butterfly: Oystein Hetland, Orange, 50.34
3-Meter Diving: Mauricio Robles, Orange, 410.78
200 IM: Tristan Slater, White, 1:51.83
400 Free Relay: Orange (Svagerko, Aberg Ledjstrom, McFall, Johnson), 3:02.57

The above is a press release written by the University of Tennessee. It has been published unedited.