TCU vs WVU
- Saturday, January 13th
- TCU, Fort Worth, Texas
- Short course yards
- Results
Team Scores
Women
- WVU – 196
- TCU – 103
Men
- WVU – 221
- TCU – 77
The Mountaineers swept the men’s meet, going 16 for 16 on event wins. The WVU women won 13 of 16 events, bringing the combined win total for West Virginia to 29 of 32 events. The 3 events TCU won came from Nicqueline Rettberg in the 1000 (10:34.00), Devin Newton in the 100 breast (1:04.90), and Anna Munster in the 100 free (51.95).
Coming out of winter break, Morgan Bullock had 3 individual wins with quick times, all 3 of which were her fastest time in a dual meet this season. In the women’s 200 fly, Bullock posted a 1:58.92, which was her fastest time overall this season, on top of being her fastest dual meet performance. That was also one of only a few women to go sub-2 minute in the 200 fly in an NCAA dual meet last weekend. Bullock took the 100 fly in a 55.60, her fastest dual meet performance this season by .15 seconds. Then, in the next event, the 200 IM, Bullock won with a 2:02.73, nearly 2 seconds faster than her previous best dual meet swim this year.
The WVU men put up on of their best performances in the 200 medley relay this year, winning the event in a time of 1:30.66. That sits just 1.16 seconds off their season best time of 1:29.50, which they set at the Ohio State Invite.
Merwane Elmerini picked up wins in the sprint free events, taking the men’s 50 and 100 free with times of 20.51, and 45.95. Elmerini’s season best in the 50 is 19.93, and his season best in the 100 is 44.68. He also split 20.10 and 45.75 anchoring the 200 medley and 400 free relays respectively.
Event Winners
Women
- 200 medley relay: WVU (Vannetta, Harris, Bullock, Nilton) – 1:45.51
- 1000 free: Nicqueline Rettberg (TCU) – 10:34.00
- 200 free: Giselle Gursoy (WVU) – 1:53.20
- 100 back: Julia Miranda (WVU) – 57.25
- 100 breast: Devin Newton (TCU) – 1:04.90
- 200 fly: Morgan Bullock (WVU) – 1:58.92
- 50 free: Julia Nilton (WVU) – 24.13
- 100 free: Anna Munster (TCU) – 51.95
- 200 back: Amelie Currat (WVU) – 2:00.59
- 200 breast: Emma Harris (WVU) – 2:22.65
- 500 free: Giselle Gursoy (WVU) – 5:06.73
- 100 fly: Morgan Bullock (WVU) – 55.60
- 200 IM: Morgan Bullock (WVU) – 2:02.73
- 400 free relay: WVU (Gursoy, Miranda, Currat, Nilton) – 3:32.33
- 1 meter diving: Averly Hobbs (WVU) – 276.45
- 3 meter diving: Maddie Woods (WVU) – 303.68
Men
- 200 medley relay: WVU (Russo, Disibio, Dixon, Elmerini) – 1:30.66.
- 1000 free: James Koval (WVU) – 9:35.92
- 200 free: Ryan Kelly (WVU) – 1:41.29
- 100 back: Angelo Russo (WVU) – 50.85
- 100 breast: Tristen Disibio (WVU) – 56.33
- 200 fly: David Dixon (WVU) – 1:46.59
- 50 free: Merwane Elmerini (WVU) – 20.51
- 100 free: Merwane Elmerini (WVU) – 45.95
- 200 back: Luke Hene (WVU) – 1:50.38
- 200 breast: David Dixon (WVU) – 2:04.28
- 500 free: Trayton Saladin (WVU) – 4:40.80
- 100 fly: Angelo Russo (WVU) – 51.02
- 200 IM: David Dixon (WVU) – 1:50.88
- 400 free relay: WVU (Damich, Kelly, Neaveill, Elmerini) – 3:05.48
- 1 meter diving: Michael Proietto (WVU) – 361.27
- 3 meter diving: Michael Proietto (WVU) – 355.87
Press Release – West Virginia:
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University swimming and diving teams showed their dominance in Saturday’s dual meet against Big 12 Conference foe TCU, earning a pair of victories at the TCU Rec Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Mountaineers, who participated in their first competition since Nov. 17-19, won 29 of 32 total events on the day, including a perfect 16-for-16 for the men’s team. The men topped the Horned Frogs, 221-77, while the women claimed a 196-103 win.
Four swimmers finished with four total wins on the day, including junior Merwane El Merini, sophomore Morgan Bullock and freshmen David Dixon and Angelo Russo. Bullock and Dixon each had three individual victories.
“This was a very solid meet for both teams today,” WVU coach Vic Riggs said. “Their eagerness to compete showed from start to finish. Having our 200 medley relays win to start the meet got us off to a great start. From there, we really capitalized on each opportunity the rest of the way, with the men winning every event and the women losing only three events.
“Morgan (Bullock), Amelie (Currat) and Giselle (Gursoy) had outstanding days. On the men’s side, David (Dixon), Merwane (El Merini), Luke (Hene) and Angelo (Russo) all had great days. I think the important takeaway from today was how well we swam as a team.”
With the wins, the men’s team has topped TCU for five consecutive years, while the triumph is the second straight over the Horned Frogs for the women’s team.
The meet began with the women’s 200 medley relay where Bullock, freshman Ally VanNetta, junior Emma Harris and sophomore Julia Nilton combined for the WVU win in 1:45.51. On the men’s side, Russo, Dixon, El Merini and redshirt junior Tristen DiSibio teamed up for the victory. The foursome earned a time of 1:30.66, ahead of WVU’s second-place team of sophomores Austin Hartke and Sam Neaveill, junior Jake Armstrong and freshman Max Gustafson (1:33.89).
Then, WVU earned a 2-3-4 finish in the women’s 1,000 freestyle. Freshman Luisa Winkler took second in 10:38.48, while sophomore Alex Pampalone (10:39.60) and junior Morgan Carr (10:41.79) finished third and fourth, respectively. James Koval won the men’s 1,000 freestyle, claiming victory by nearly five seconds in a time of 9:35.92.
In the women’s 200 freestyle, Gursoy registered a win in 1:53.20, ahead of teammate Currat, who touched the wall in second place in 1:54.07. Gursoy also won the 500 free for WVU, posting a time of 5:06.73. Winkler (5:11.68) and Carr (5:11.71) followed behind in second and third.
The men earned a 1-2-3 finish in the 200 free, led by sophomore Ryan Kelly‘s 1:41.29. Junior Drew Damich placed second in 1:41.57, while senior Chris McMahon was third in 1:44.08.
Sophomore Trayton Saladin won the 500 free later on, leading a 1-2-3 Mountaineer finish in 4:40.80.
The winning continued for WVU in the women’s 100 backstroke, where sophomore Julia Miranda won in a time of 57.25, ahead of VanNetta, who placed second in 58.35. For the men, Russo led a pack of Mountaineers with a first-place time of 50.85. Hene (51.62) finished second, while Hartke (51.82) was third.
After Harris finished second in the women’s 100 breaststroke, DiSibio took home the victory for the men in a time of 56.33. Armstrong placed second in the event with a 57.39. Harris got back to her winning ways in the 200 breaststroke, though, posting a time of 2:22.65.
Dixon (2:04.28) scooped up another win in the men’s 200 breaststroke, finishing one-tenth of a second faster than DiSibio for first place.
Next was the women’s 200 butterfly, an event won by Bullock in a time of 1:58.92. Carr placed second in 2:04.48. Bullock also won the 100 fly in 55.60, while Currat (57.15) placed second and Miranda (58.08) third.
Dixon won the men’s 200 fly, recording a 1:46.59 finish, nearly seven seconds faster than sophomore Gabe Swardson, who finished second for the Mountaineers. Russo led the way in the men’s 100 fly, registering a first-place time of 51.02.
In the 50 free, Nilton placed first for the women in 24.13, while El Merini won for the men. The Marseille, France, native secured a time of 20.51. Neaveill and Damich went 2-3 in the event, earning times of 21.07 and 21.20, respectively.
After Nilton finished second in the women’s 100 free, El Merini earned another victory for the men in 45.95. Then, Currat won the 200 backstroke for the WVU women, touching the wall in 2:00.59, ahead of VanNetta’s second-place time of 2:05.65. Hene led the men with a winning time of 1:50.38.
Bullock picked up her third individual win of the day in the women’s 200 IM. The Zeeland, Michigan, native won in 2:02.73, before Dixon claimed another win in the men’s race in 1:50.88.
Swimming events wrapped up with the 400 freestyle relays. The WVU women, led by Gursoy, Miranda, Currat and Nilton, won in a time of 3:32.33. The men’s team also tasted victory as the team of Damich, Kelly, Neaveill and El Merini combined to win in a time of 3:05.48.
On springboard, junior Averly Hobbs won on 1-meter for the Mountaineer women, posting a score of 276.45, ahead of freshman Callie Smith, who was second with an NCAA Zone ‘A’ qualifying score of 270.15. Junior Julia Calcut finished third with a 256.50 mark.
Junior Madelyn Woods won on women’s 3-meter, collecting a score of 303.68. Calcut (271.13) and Smith (259.96) finished second and third, respectively.
For the men, senior Michael Proietto led the way on both boards, winning 1-meter with a score of 361.27 and 3-meter with a 355.87. Senior Logan McHenry (326.39) placed second on 1-meter for the Mountaineers, while freshman Caleb Keck was third on 3-meter with a score of 299.40.
“It was a great day for our divers,” WVU diving coach Michael Grapner said. “The women all came out strong and focused on accomplishing their goals. Each of the girls contributed all that they could to help the team to a victory. It was great to see Maddy (Woods) break 300 on 3-meter and Callie Smith qualify for Zones on 1-meter.
“The men had a good day as well. Mike continues to be consistent on 1- and 3-meters; he was just a few points from another 1-meter record. Logan is just coming off an injury and made his return today. This meet is a great precursor for preparation for Big 12s.”
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Thursday, Jan. 18, as WVU hosts rival Pitt at the WVU Natatorium. The Backyard Brawl begins with diving events at 4 p.m., with swimming beginning at 5 p.m.
Press Release – TCU:
FORT WORTH, Texas – The TCU men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams took on West Virginia on Saturday in the Rickel. After celebrating the seniors prior to the meet, the Horned Frogs fell to the Mountaineers.
Several swimmers on the women’s team had strong showings throughout the meet. Nicqueline Rettberg opened the individual events with a win in the 1000 free, while senior Devin Newton won the 100 breast and finished third in the 200 breast and 200 IM. Claire Munster won the 100 free and finished second in the 50 free. The women’s team finished second, third, and fourth in two events: the 200 breast and 200 IM.
The women’s 200 medley relay tandem of Maddie Ibrahim, Newton, Micaela Roemer, and Munster finished second with a time of 1:45.86.
On the men’s side, Radu Duican and Brendan Barry finished second and third in the 200 back, finishing in 1:51.12 and 1:51.32. Kevin Chao and Dayne Odendaal also finished second and third in the 100 free with times of 9:40.27 and 9:40.45 respectively.
“We raced well coming off of tough training trip in Florida,” head coach Sam Busch said. “The women are applying what we work on in practice in race settings. Devin had a great 100 breast time, and Nico bounced back with a great 1000 time. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re just now hitting our peak training cycle and it’s just a matter of responding to that training.”
The Horned Frogs return to action at North Texas, scheduled for Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. TCU will wrap up the regular season in Austin for a Big 12 meet against Texas on Feb. 2, scheduled for 6 p.m.
