The Tennessee Men’s and Women’s swimming and diving teams rolled to season-opening victories against UNC Wilmington on Friday at the Seahawk Natatorium.
The Tennessee men (1-0) won their competition 167-133, while the women (1-0) were victorious 178-116 to start Matt Kredich’s second year as the head coach of the combined program. The UNCW Seahawk men (0-1) and women (0-1), who survived the possibility of getting cut at the end of last season.
The Tennessee men won 13 of 16 of the swimming and diving events, while the women won 12 of 16.
Tennessee set three pool records during the meet. The women’s team of Lauren Solernou, Molly Hannis, Harper Bruens and Faith Johnson opened the evening by breaking the meet record in the 200-yard medley relay (1:43.42).
Senior Lindsay Gendron, who already owned the natatorium record in the 100 freestyle, made her mark this year in the 200 freestyle. The SEC champion in the 200 freestyle last spring, she broke the previous pool mark by nearly two seconds in 1:50.78.
The diving team enjoyed the return of red shirt sophomore Mauricio Robles. He set the third pool record of the night, scoring a 387.37 on the 3-meter springboard. The 2012 SEC platform champion also won on 1 meter.
Christine Souther led UNCW with a pair of wins, taking top honors in the 100 Breaststroke (1:06.22) and later the 200 IM with a time of 2:10.97. Adding win a win for the Seahawk women was junior Hannah Stephenson with a time of 57.55 in the 100 Backstroke.
Drew Gaertner joined Valtteri Halonen and Alex Rayle as event winners for the Seahawk men. Gaertner and Gabe Thran finished 1-2 in the 50 Free with times of 22.00 and 22.06 seconds, respectively. Halonen, meanwhile, won the 200 Back (1:54.75) and freshman Alex Rayle captured the 200 Breast with a time of 2:13.25.
In diving for the Seahawks, freshman Nate Lane finished second in the men’s 3-meter and junior Chase Seymour was third in the 1-meter.
You can find complete meet results here.
For more on Tennessee Swimming and Diving visit UTSports.com
For more on UNCW Swimming and Diving visit UNCWSports.com
