Swimming: Both WVU Teams Defeat St. Bonaventure
January 16, 2005 04:15 PM | General
January 16, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women's swimming and diving team knocked off St. Bonaventure 131-112, while the men downed the Bonnies 142-99 on Sunday, Jan. 16, at the WVU Natatorium.
"The important thing about the meet today was that last year against St. Bonaventure the meet came down to the last meet for the men and the women lost," said head swimming coach Sergio Lopez. "So after a tough meet yesterday the team showed they were able to step up to the plate."
The meet was highlighted by a ceremony that recognized all 10 of the two West Virginia team's senior swimmers. Those swimmers include: Livia Cascao, Manuela Trabert, Brian Donahue, Matt Drozd, Thomas Fletcher, Kyle Gallo, Arda Kostem, Michael Kristufek, David Matthews and Kevin Van Buskirk.
The meet improves the women's record to 5-6 and the men's to 6-4. St. Bonaventure's women drop to 4-4 and the men fall to 4-3.
Freshman star Maritza Paredes preserved her unbeaten streak for her third meet in a row as she won the 50 free (24.22) and the 100 fly (58.17). Paredes swam in her fist collegiate meet on Saturday, Jan. 8, against Pitt and has won all six individual events that she has swam in. Her time in the 100 fly also qualifies her for yet another event at the BIG EAST Championships.
Paredes freshmen counterparts scored high for the Mountaineers as well. Erin Tudor won the 200 free with a time of 1:56.76. Split, Croatia, native Tina Gabrilo won the 400 IM in 4:32.52 with fellow freshman Bonnie Sutton taking second (4:42.22).
"All of our freshman women did very well today," said Lopez. "Today was a good sign that they have stepped up."
Jennifer Nyce had a productive day in diving as she won the three meter board with a score of 225.53 and took second on the one meter board as she scored a 204.30. Nyce has already qualified for the NCAA Zones meet that takes place in Indianapolis, Ind., during the first week of March.
For the second say the WVU men made short work of their opponent by building an early lead. In the 200 medley relay Rick Mann, Felipe Cunha, Pedro Pinto and Chris Hagedorn took first with a time of 1:33.24. The time gave them the win by more than three seconds over the Bonnies (1:36.60).
Senior Kevin Van Buskirk extended the Mountaineer lead when he won the 1000 free as he clocked in at 9:58.50.
WVU once again placed swimmers first, second and third in the 50 free. Drozd took first in 20.92 seconds with Kyle Williams coming in second (21.23) and Kyle Williams finished in third (21.85). Drozd also took first in the 100 free in a time of 46.79.
Freshman Pablo Marmolejo won a pair of events on the day. The Mexico City, Mexico, native won the 400 IM (4:04.32) as well as the 100 back (52.20).
In the 100 fly senior Pedro Pinto captured first place in the event with a time of 49.39 seconds and teammate Chris Hagedorn came in second in 51.41 seconds.
Men's diver Brian Donahue finished second on the three meter board. Donahue scored a 219.15.
The Mountaineers return to action on Jan. 22 when they travel to Blacksburg, Va., to face Virginia Tech. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m.
