Kentucky vs Cincinnati
- Friday, January 28, 2022
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Results
- Scores
- Women: Kentucky 250, Cincinnati 48
- Men: Kentucky 201, Cincinnati 98
The University of Kentucky swimming & diving team put on a dominant performance in what was their final dual meet of the 2021-22 season, as the Wildcats handily swept the University of Cincinnati on senior day.
The Kentucky women won every event on the schedule to earn a 250-48 decision over the Bearcats, while the Wildcat men more than doubled up their opponents by a final tally of 201-98.
Women’s Recap
It was a fitting senior day showing for the Kentucky women as eight of the 14 individual event wins went to senior athletes.
Riley Gaines led the charge, doubling up with wins in the women’s 100 fly (53.96) and 200 fly (1:57.50) while also contributing a pair of blistering relay legs. Gaines split 48.72 to anchor home Kentucky’s ‘B’ 400 medley relay that placed second to the ‘A’ squad, and the senior also split 22.82 on the winning 200 free relay at the end of the meet.
Also winning two events for the seniors was Kyndal Knight, who swept the 1-meter (293.93) and 3-meter (328.80) diving events.
Other fourth-years earning wins for the Wildcats included Izzy Gati in the 200 free (1:49.50), Sophie Sorenson in the 50 free (23.86), Kelly Rodriguez in the 100 free (51.50) and Parker Herren in the 200 back (2:00.83).
Wildcat sophomores Megan Drumm (500/1000 free) and Bridget Engel (100/200 breast) picked up sweeps in their respective events, while fifth-year Bailey Bonnett rolled to a big 400 IM win in 4:14.35 and added a runner-up showing behind Gaines in the 200 fly (1:59.82).
Thank you, seniors. 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/rNC1bWID5z
— Kentucky Swim & Dive (@UKSwimDive) January 29, 2022
Men’s Recap
Kentucky had four men claim two individual event wins apiece, including senior Mason Wilby in the 50 free (20.56) and 100 fly (48.56).
The Wildcats also had sophomore Max Berg rattle off his fifth sub-1:37 200 free of the season, clocking 1:36.59 to win handily while also leading the way in the 100 free (44.31). Last weekend against Louisville, Berg swam a 200 free lifetime best of 1:35.80.
In the relays, Berg anchored Kentucky to the win in the 400 medley with a scintillating 43.61 100 free split, and then in the 200 free relay, led off in 20.43 as the Wildcats edged Cincinnati by half a second in 1:21.95.
Freshman Nicholas Caruso swam to a best time in the 1000 free, winning in 9:11.95, and he also touched first in the 500 free (4:28.55).
On the boards, Kentucky senior Ming Zhang swept the 1-meter (384.98) and 3-meter (419.18) diving events.
The other double-winner on the day was Cincinnati’s Blake Hanna, as the fifth-year senior topped the field in the 100 back (49.37) and 200 back (1:46.82).
Also winning for the Bearcats was fellow fifth-year Dom Polling, who paced the 100 breast in 55.96.
Joining the slew of senior wins for Kentucky on the day was Kyle Barker, who engineered a big comeback to top the men’s 200 fly (1:48.00) over Cincinnati sophomore Tommy Eaton (1:48.24).
