Tennessee Men, Women Sweep UNCW in Season Opener at Wilmington

UNC Wilmington vs. University of Tennessee Dual Meet

• October 1, 2021
• Seahawk Natatorium, Wilmington, North Carolina
• SCY (25 yards)
• Full Results (PDF)
• Team Scores
  • Men: Tennessee 214-UNCW 81
  • Women: Tennessee 196-UNCW 96

The Tennessee Volunteers opened their 2021-22 NCAA season with a dual meet at UNC Wilmington. It was UNCW’s second dual meet; the Seahawks swept the Army men’s and women’s teams in September.

Tennessee won 28 of 32 events, including 24 swimming races and all four diving events. In the men’s meet 2020 Tokyo Olympian Lyubomir Epitropov, the reigning SEC champ in the 200 breast, won both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes (54.96/1:59.92). Rafael Ponce de Leon touched first in the 500/1000 free (4:32.39/9:19.59) and was third in the 200 free. Harrison Lierz swept the backstrokes (49.80/1:49.82) and was runner-up in the 200 IM. Gus Rothrock won that event (1:51.82) and the 200 fly (1:50.25); he placed second to Lierz in the 200 back. Jordan Crooks won the sprint frees (20.92/45.66). Bryden Hattie won on both the 1m and 3m boards.

Grace Cable swept the diving and Summer Smith took the distance frees (4:52.73/9:59.20). Tokyo Olympian Ellen Walshe made her debut for the Lady Vols by winning the 200 breast by over 4 seconds (2:16.47). Mona McSharry, who also competed in Tokyo, was runner-up in the 50 free to Tennessee teammate Jasmine Rumley (23.15). European Junior Champion Julia Mrozinski won the 100 free (51.45). Fifth-year transfer Bayley Stewart won the 200 back (1:59.50).

UNC Wilmington got a win from Reece Alexander in the 100 fly (55.79). She edged McSharry, who had led at the 50 (25.83 to 25.98), with a strong”’ back half (29.81 to McSharry’s 30.31). Tennessee exhibitioned the 100 fly, 200 IM, and 400 free relay. UNCW’s Kathryn Knorr won the IM and Molly Braun, Morgan Kondratick, Victoria Cunningham, and Sophia Landeryou scored first in the relay.

The Seahawks had a number of runner-up finishes: Jacob Duracinsky in the 200 free (1:40.72), Henderson Louviere in the 100 fly (49.91) and the 200 fly (1:50.80), E’Likai Crompton-English in the 50 free (21.13), Hannah Copeland in the 100 free (52.51), and Gianmichel D’Alessandro in the 200 breast (2:03.88).

Full UNCW Release:

WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW’s Courtney Klausen fashioned a pair of top-three finishes in diving and Henderson Louviere posted a pair of second-place finishes in the Fly events, but Tennessee opened its season with a sweep of a dual meet at the Seahawk Natatorium.

With the setbacks, UNCW drops to 1-1 on both sides.

Klausen took second in the 1-meter with 250.28 points and third in the 3-meter scoring 266.33 points.

Freshmen Reece Alexander and Katie Knorr posted wins in the 100 Fly and 200 IM, respectively.

Tennessee opened the meeting sweeping the 200 Medley Relays and exhibitioned the 400 Free Relays to closeout the meet. On the men’s side, the Seahawk 400 Free Relay of Jacob Duracinsky, Kenneth Lowe, E’likai Crompton-English and Will Barker clocked in at 3:03.35 while the Vols touched the wall in a time of 3:02.86.

Second-place finishes for the Seahawks included Duracinsky in the 200 Free, Louviere (200 and 200 Fly), Crompton-English (50 Free), Hannah Copeland (100 Free) and Gianmichel D’Alessandro (200 Breaststroke).

Tennessee won 23 events before exhibitioning the final events of the meet.

The Seahawks next compete when the diving teams visit East Carolina on Oct. 9. The women’s swimming program will visit rival Campbell on Oct. 23 for a tri-meet with UNC Asheville.