Swimming: WVU Downs Orange, Women Fall Close
January 15, 2005 02:58 PM | General
January 15, 2005
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University men's swimming and diving team defeated BIG EAST opponent Syracuse 144-90, while the women lost in a close meet with the Orange 122.5-118.5 Saturday, Jan. 15, at the WVU Natatorium.
"I'm pretty happy with the meet," said head coach Sergio Lopez. "They really believe they can accomplish something as a team."
The Mountaineer men (5-4) got back to over .500 on the afternoon with strong swims across the board from many different swimmers.
"I think on the men's side Pedro Pinto did a very good job and Rick Mann also swam a very good meet," says Lopez.
WVU was able to set the pace for the meet in the first race when Rick Mann, Felipe Cunha, Pedro Pinto and Matt Drozd combined on the 400 medley relay to defeat their Syracuse counterpart by more than 10 seconds (3:24.63).
In the 50 free the Mountaineers were able to place swimmers first, second and third. Chris Hagedorn was able to win the race in a time of 20.96 with teammates Matt Drozd (21.13) and Rick Mann (21.93) right behind him.
Later on the men took the top three spots in the 100 free when Hagedorn took first in 46.68, Kyle Williams finished second in 47.65 and Mann grabbed third in 47.72.
Freshman Pablo Marmolejo broke the pool record in the 200 IM in a time of 1:52.52. The swim replaces Pinto's time of 1:53.75 as the Natatorium's fastest time. Marmolejo also placed second in the meet in the 200 back (1:52.37)
Senior Brian Donahue swept the diving events on the afternoon with teammate Kenny McAdoo taking second in both events. Donahue scored a 228.90 on the three meter board and a 232.20 on the one meter board. McAdoo earned a 200.05 score on the three meter board and a 208.80 on the one meter board.
The men wrapped up the day by breaking the natatorium record in the 400 free relay. Drozd, Pinto, Hagedorn and Williams completed the relay in 3:05.02.
Despite the women's (4-6) heartbreaking loss Lopez was pleased with his team's performance as they were in it down to the end. Lopez believes that fatigue may have played a role.
"We are in a strange part of the season right now," said Lopez. "If the girls were tired they may have become a little complacent but that isn't their fault."
The Mountaineers began the meet with a second place finish in the 400 IM relay. The quartet of Tina Gabrilo, Megan Carlson, Julia Warnken and Erin Tudor completed the race in a time of 4:00.42.
Freshman Maritza Paredes continued her dominance in the freestyle events. After winning the 100 and 200 free events last weekend against Pitt Paredes repeated on Saturday by setting the Natatorium record in the 200 free (1:51.90) and winning the 100 free (52.15).
WVU was able to take the top two spots in the 50 free as Tudor took first (24.77) and sophomore Lizzy Cleary tied for second (25.13)
The women's divers proved to be just as overpowering as the men's were. Coming off of a solid meet last weekend sophomore Jennifer Nyce won the three meter board (227.10) and the one meter board (217.28) against the Orange.
To close out the meet for the women the 400 free relay comprised of Tudor, Paredes, Elyse Fisher and Manuela Trabert dominated the field with a time of 3:34.76, five seconds better than Syracuse's relay.
Both Mountaineer teams return to action on Sunday, Jan. 16, when play host to St. Bonaventure at the WVU Natatorium at noon.
