Tennessee Men and Women Beat Louisville on the Road

LOUISVILLE VS. TENNESSEE

  • Results
  • Hosted by Louisville
  • Thursday, November 2nd
  • 25 Yards
  • Dual Meet Format

FINAL TEAM SCORES:

  • MEN: Tennessee 170, Louisville 130
  • WOMEN: Tennessee 156, Louisville 144

Tennessee’s Micah Bohon, Erika Brown, and Tess Cieplucha led the way for the Volunteer women as they took down Louisville last Thursday. Bohon swept the backstrokes races, getting her hand to the wall first in a tight race against Louisville’s Alina Kendzior, 54.43 to 54.73, in the 100 back. In the 200 back, she came from behind, running down teammate Meghan Small (1:57.21) on the back half to win in 1:57.15. Brown also picked up a sweep with her performances in the butterfly races. She got the ball rolling with a 1:57.32 in the 200 fly and finished off the sweep with a 52.70 in the 100 fly.

Ciepulcha picked up her first win in the 500 free, building a 3 seconds lead over the field in 4:48.43. She returned to win the 400 IM at the end of the session, running down teammate Rachael Bradford-Feldman (4:12.86) in the final 50 to win in 4:11.22.

Louisville had 2 swimmers pick up multiple individual wins: Mallory Comerford and Mariia Astashkina. Reigning NCAA champ Comerford topped the field with a 1:45.60 in her signature 200 free. She came back to set the pace in the 100 free, swimming to a 48.56 ahead of Tennessee’s Stanzi Moseley (49.69). Teammate Astashkina swept the breaststrokes, tying fellow Cardinal freshman Morgan Friesen with a 1:02.55 in the 100 breast before coming from behind to beat Friesen (2:14.15) in the 200 breast with a 2:13.72.

On the men’s side, there were no multiple event winners, but Peter Stevens, Kyle Decoursey, and Sam McHugh were among several winners for Tennessee in their victory over the Cardinals. McHugh held off a charge from Louisville’s Carlos Claverie (3:54.45) in the 400 IM, pulling away from him further on the freestyle leg to win in 3:52.88. Breaststroke standout Stevens topped Claverie, 53.93 to 54.83, in the 100 breast.

Decoursey’s win came in the 200 free, which he won by over a second in 1:38.18. Louisville’s Andrej Barna picked up a sprint sweep for the Cardinals after tight races with Decoursey. In the 50 free, he clipped Decoursey 20.15 to 20.23. Barna used his front half speed to take the edge over Decoursey in the 100 free, holding on to win it in 44.72 to Decoursey’s 44.88.

PRESS RELEASE – TENNESSEE:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Tennessee swimming and diving team swept Louisville on the road Thursday at Ralph Wright Natatorium.

The No. 15 Tennessee men (5-1) won 9 of 16 events to defeat the No. 13 Cardinals 170-130. Backed by a trio of two-event winners, the No. 12 UT women won 10 of 16 events in a 156-144 victory over No. 11 Louisville.

Tennessee junior newcomer Colin Zeng, already a two-time SEC Diver of the Week, led the Vols with two events on the men’s side. He won the 1-meter springboard with a score of 357.00 and then set a facility record with a season-best 439.65 on 3-meter as part of a 1-2-3 Tennessee finish.

The women had three multi-race winners in the pool. Senior Micah Bohon won the 100-yard backstroke (54.43) and the 200 backstroke (1:57.15), sophomore Tess Cieplucha took first in the 500 freestyle (4:48.43) and the 400 individual medley (4:11.22), and reigning SEC Swimmer of the Week Erika Brown won the 200 butterfly (1:57.32) and followed with a win in the 100 butterfly (52.70).

Additional event winners for the Tennessee women included: Amanda Nunan in the 1000 freestyle (9:59.34), Ana Celaya Hernandez on the 3-meter springboard (320.85) and Rachel Rubadue on the 1-meter springboard (300.38).

The Tennessee men had an all-around team scoring effort in the pool with six swimmers winning a race.

Kyle DeCoursey won the 200 freestyle (1:38.18) and followed with two second-place finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyle; Matthew Garcia won the 100 backstroke by one hundredth of a second (48.34); Peter John Stevens won the 100 breaststroke (53.93); Taylor Abbott took first again in the 500 freestyle (4:24.61); Ryan Coetzee won the 100 butterfly (47.95); and Sam McHugh touched the wall first in the 400 IM (3:52.88).

Both the men and women led off the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay. Louisville won the 400 freestyle relay to end the meet.

QUOTES

Head Coach Matt Kredich:
(Opening statement)
“We just competed really well from beginning to end. We didn’t have any letups as a team. Louisville is probably the most energetic team we have faced this year, and we had to match or exceed their intensity. I thought we did a great job of that. We’ve had close races and winning more than our share.”

Tess Cieplucha had an incredible meet. The 200 free, 500 free, 400 IM were all the best she’s swam in season. Taylor Abbott did the same in the men’s 500. The 500s were huge moments in each meet. We were in need of wins in both of those events, either to cement the lead for the men and keep the lead for the women. Taylor’s race was aggressive.

“We had more extraordinary performances for Erika Brown in the fly. Matthew Garcia and Ryan Coetzee won close races in the 100 back and 100 fly and those were pivotal moments as well. Our first relays were good from beginning to end.”

(On Micah Bohon‘s rise in backstroke)
“Micah’s really come into her own. One of the challenges for Micah is she swims so many events well. This year, we needed someone to step up in the backstroke, and she’s stepped up each time. She won two events in backstroke against Louisville, and she’s leading off our 400 free relay as well. It’s a new role for her, and she’s really flourishing in it.”

(On seniors Ryan CoetzeePeter John Stevens and Sam McHugh getting wins)
“All three of those guys are really critical for our team. It’s not that we take them for granted, but we count on them. Peter had one of his best in-season times. Same for Sam. One of the challenges for those guys has been for them to use those races as learning opportunities. The trend for each has been to get better and better as the season goes along. It’s been the commitment to improvement that has helped the culture for the team. Same for Liam Stone. They’ve had far-reaching meaning for us.”

Diving Coach Dave Parrington
(Opening statement)

“Overall, I was really pleased with the level of competitiveness as a whole in a somewhat tough environment. It was good to see the divers step up to the challenge in a meet where every point was extremely valuable to aid the whole team effort.

“Colin had another good day. He won the 1-meter in solid fashion. On the 3-meter, it was an epic battle between Colin and Liam (Stone) that came down to the last dive. I was pleased to see Liam to find some form as he gets himself into his normal competitive side. Will Hallam was part of that 1—2-3 sweep on 3-meter as well.

“On women’s 3-meter, Ana Hernandez pulled out a big win in a competitive field with a season best. The 1-meter was during an important part of the women’s meet. The top four or five were throwing great dives, but Rachel came out on top.”

PRESS RELEASE – LOUISVILLE:

The University of Louisville won 11 individual events and two relays but fell to the University of Tennessee Thursday night at the Ralph Wright Natatorium. The Volunteer men won 170-130, with the UT women edging the Cards 156-144.

In all, the Cardinals posted 17 NCAA B-cut times, with an A-cut for Mallory Comerford in the 200-freestyle.  Multiple winners for the men included: Zach Harting (200 fly, 400 Free Relay) and Nicolas Albiero (200 back, 400 Free Relay.)   Andrej Barna won the 50 free and was part of the winning 400 Free Relay. The Cardinal women were paced by Mallory Comerford, who had wins in the 200 free, the 100 free and the 400 free relay. Mariia Astashkina swept the two breaststroke events.

“I am proud of the effort. Obviously, you want to win these things and that never sits well with me,” said Arthur Albiero, UofL head coach. “But you have to look at the progression. In many ways this is a young squad finding their ways and stepping up in many areas. There has been a lot of progress. That is what I am looking for is progression. We saw a lot of that today. That is part of what we are doing in November getting ready for bigger and better things. Again, I am proud of the effort.”

In the first event of the afternoon, the women’s 200 medley relay, Alina Kendzior (25.39), Avery Braunecker (28.73), Mallory Comerford (23.22), and an anchor by Casey Fanz (22.52) combined for  a time of 1:39.96 and second place.

The Cardinal men’s 200 medley relay touched second when Nicolas Albiero (22.43), Carlos Claverie (24.45), Zach Harting (21.70) and Andrej Barna (19.58) boarded a time of 1:28.16. The Tennessee A relay won in 1:26.99.

UofL’s Sophie Cattermole touched second in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 9:59.60. UT’s Amanda Nunan won the event in 9:59.34. Cardinal Maggie Jahns was third in 10:20.68. On the men’s side, Cardinal Marcelo Acosta won the men’s 1000 in 9:05.20 with freshman TC Smith finishing  fourth in 9:20.40.

In the 200 free, Mallory Comerford won with an A-cut time of 1:45.60. Arina Openysheva was third, going 1:48.59.  On the men’s side, Jarrett Jones was second in the 200 free with a time of 1:39.40. UofL’s Sam Steele picked up third place points, going 1:39.45.  The event was won by UT’s Kyle Decoursey‘s  1:38.18.

In the women’s 100-back, UofL’s Alina Kendzior touched second in 54.73 for a B-cut. Teammate Ashlyn Schoof was third in 55.42.  UT’s Micah Bohon won the event, posting a time of 54.43.  In the men’s 100 back, Nicolas Albiero was second in 48.35, just  1/100th behind UT’s Matthew Garcia for a B-cut time.

In the women’s 100 breast, UofL’s Morgan Friesen and Mariia Astashkina tie for first, going 1:02.55. On the men’s side, Carlos Claverie touched second in 54.83 in the 100-breast, in 53.93 for a B-cut.

In the women’s 200 fly, Grace Oglesby was second with a B-cut of 1:59.33 with UT’s Erika Brown taking first with a 1:57.32. In the men’s 200-fly, UofL’s Zach Harting won with a time of 1:46.41 for a B-cut time. Teammate Etay Gurevich was fourth in 1:51.87.

In the women’s 50 free, Arina Openysheva put up a B-cut time of 22.97 in her win. Casey Fanz was right there, touching third in 23.08.

Andrej Barna had a B-cut with a time of 20.15 for his win in the 50-free. Matyi Kovacs was sixth in 21.22.

Mallory Comerford gets her second win with a B-cut time of  48.56 in the 100 freestyle. Lainey Visscher also scored with a time of 51.21 and a fifth place.  In the men’s 100 free, Andrej Barna powers to the wall for the win in 44.72. Sam Steele is fourth in 46.06.

In women’s 1-meter diving, Rachel Rubadue puts up the winning score of 300.38, UofL’s Molly Fears is second with a score of 296.18. Michaela Sliney is fourth with a score of 270.30.  In the 3-meter board, Molly Fears was second with a score of 303.00. UofL’s Michaela Sliney was fourth with a score of 270.18. Ana Celaya Hernandez of UT was the winner, with a 320.85.

In the men’s 1 meter diving, Zhipeng Zeng of Tennessee, who put up a score of 357e00. UofL’s Daniel Fecteau was second with a score of 327.60. Daniel Pinto was fifth, boarding a score of 292.35. In the men’s 3 meter diving, Daniel Pinto was fourth, with a time of 332.70, Daniel Fecteau was fifth (331.28).

In the women’s 200 back, UofL’s top finisher was Alina Kendzior, who put up a 1:59.14 for a B-cut.  The event was won by UT’s Micah Bohon‘s time of 1:57.15. Nick Albiero touches first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:45.38! Nikkos Sofianidis is 3rd in 1:47.61.

In the women’s 200 breast, Mariia Astashkina was first with a B-cut time of 2:13.72. Morgan Friesen touched second in 2:14.15 with Rachael Bradford Feldman scoring with a fourth 2:!.11 and both were B-Cuts as well.  Carlos Claverisecond in  won the 200 breaststroke with a B-cut time of 1:58.60. Todd Owen was third in 2:04.41.

In the 500 free, Arina Openysheva was second with a time of 4:51.77.  Sophie Cattermolewas fourth with a time of 4:56.38. The event was won by UT’s Tess Cieplucha, who boarded a 4:48.43,  In the men’s 500,  Marcelo Acosta was second, posting a 4:29.45. He was out-touched by UTs Taylor Abbott’s B-cut time of 4:24.61.

In the women’s 100 fly, Grace Oglesby touched second with a time of 54.67. Nastja Govejsekwas third with a time of 54.98. Alina Kendzior was fifth, going 55.70. The event was won by UT’s Erika Brown‘s 52.70.  In the men’s 100 fly, Ryan Coetzee of Tennessee won with a time 47.95.  Zach Harting was second, posting a time of 48.11 for a B-cut.
,
In the 400 IM, Rachael Bradford Feldman was second with a B-cut time of 4:12.86, The event was won by Tess Cieplucha of Tennessee, who went 4:11.22.  In the men’s 400- IM, Carlos Claverie was second in 3:54.45 for a B-cut. Jarrett Jones was third, boarding a 3:49.82.

In the 400 free relay, the Cardinal women wont the 400 Free Relay: Arina Openysheva (50.38), Lainey Visscher  (51.09), Mallory Comerford (47.90) and Casey Fanz (49.85) combined for 3;19.22.

The Cards won men’s 400 Free Relay with Nicolas Albiero (45.32), Andrej Barna (44.06), Nikkos Sofianidis (44.5) and Zach Harting (43.90) combined for a 2:57.79 and the win.

The Cardinals head to Charlottesville, Va. Nov. 10-11 for a two-day meet with ACC foe Virginia.

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About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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