Swimming: Mountaineers Open BIG EAST Season
November 06, 2008 04:01 PM | General
By Grant Dovey for MSNsportsNET.com
November 6, 2008
 |
||
| Kayla Andrews |
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – The West Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will start BIG EAST competition this weekend when they travel to Louisville on Friday, Nov. 7, and Cincinnati on Saturday, Nov. 8.
West Virginia (men 2-3, women 2-4) were last in action on Oct. 25 when each team fell to both Virginia Tech and N.C. State in Blacksburg, Va. Senior Pablo Marmolejo had first place finishes in the 100 fly, 200 fly and the 200 IM. Junior Kayla Andrews finished first in both the 50 and 100 free. Andrews has yet to not finish first in both events so far this season.
Louisville (men 0-1, women 2-1) has both of their teams ranked in the College Swim Coaches of American Association poll. The men are ranked 18th, while the women come in at No. 26.
The Cardinal men and women both opened their seasons with losses at Tennessee. The women however have redeemed themselves with wins against Miami (OH) and Purdue in Oxford, Ohio.
Cincinnati (men 0-3, women 1-2) will have a Friday night meet as well when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State.
The Bearcats only meet was in Rochester, Mich., where they participated in the Golden Grizzly Quadrangular hosted by Wayne State along with Oakland and Western Kentucky. Both teams fell to Oakland and Western Kentucky, while the men lost to Wayne State and the women defeated the Warriors for their only win this season.
Last season in Morgantown, WVU’s men fell to Louisville, 172-126, while the women were dropped by the Cardinals, 168-132. Senior Michael Walker had a win in the 200 breast, while senior Lindsey Largo and junior Justin Galbreath each had wins in the 1000 free.
Both teams defeated Cincinnati with the men winning 134-86 and the women, 122-104. The night was highlighted with the Mountaineers having four WVU Natatorium records broken. Junior Ashley Malik finished first in the 1-meter dive and Walker, Largo, Andrews, and junior Morgan Callaway all had successful meets.
Friday’s meet with Louisville will be held in the Ralph Wright Natatorium and starts at 5:00 p.m. Saturday’s showdown with Cincinnati at the Keating Aquatic Center will start at 12:00 p.m.
