Swimming: Women Take Third, Men Take Fourth
February 18, 2012 11:49 PM | General
PITTSBURGH, Pa.- The WVU swimming and diving teams completed the final day of the BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Championships Friday evening. The women completed the meet in third place with a final score of 524 points, behind BIG EAST Champ Louisville (758.5) and Notre Dame (593.5). The men finished with in fourth with a score of 509. Notre Dame took the BIG EAST title (887),followed by Louisville (859.5) and Pitt (520).
Mandie Nugent had an amazing swim in the 200 fly, battling with Louisville’s Tanja Kylliainen throughout the race. Nugent pulled ahead in the end to repeat as BIG EAST Champ for the third time, crushing her original BIG EAST record, the pool record receiving her NCAA “A” cut time in 1:54.43. Julie Ogden swam to a fifth-place finish in the event with a time of 2:00.30.
Rachael Burnett set a new BIG EAST and pool record in the 1,650 free with a time of 16:13.39. Her time also earned her an NCAA “B” cut. This is Burnett’s third individual BIG EAST title of the 2012 championships. Joining Burnett on the podium was Kata Fodor, who battled through the 1,650 to take fourth (16:32.34).
“Just a great meet all the way around,” says coach Vic Riggs. “We gave Notre Dame a good push on the first two days and they responded. The reason our ladies swam so well was in part of chasing Notre Dame. I’m really proud of them.”
Daeton Davenport took sixth in the 1,650 free (15:32.28). Notre Dame’s Brennan Jacobsen took first with a time of 15:16.77.
Danielle Smith, originally seeded No. 5, finished third in the 200 back with an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:56.81. Rachael Gorrie took sixth (2:00.07) and Tiera Butkus placed seventh (2:00.47). Kelly Ryan of Notre Dame finished first (1:55.56). Nikki Vetterlein took first in the consolation finals (2:00.21) adding nine points to the women’s total score.
Bryce Bohman and Eric Johnson finished fifth (1:47.59) and seventh (1:48.18) in the 200 back. Pedro Oliveira of Louisville took first in the event with a time of 1:44.23. Jake Querciagrossa battled to a second-place finish in the consolation finals, followed by David Palley in fifth (1:50.42).
The men’s 100 free came down to the final seconds with Tim Squires taking fourth with an NCAA “B” cut time of 44.10 and Brad Eichenseer seventh (44.51). In the consolation finals, Nathan Cobbe finished three places ahead of his seedtime in fourth (44.85). Joao De Lucca of Louisville finished first in the event with a time of 42.95. De Lucca broke the BIG EAST record in the prelims earlier this morning with his time of 42.67.
Jack Greenhalgh stayed consistent in the 200 breast finishing 14th overall. He took sixth in the consolation finals with a time of 2:02.61. Carlos Almeida of Louisville finished first in the finals (1:55.52).
Breanna McCann took seventh in the 200 breast with an NCAA “B” cut time of 2:14.35. In her last swim as a Mountaineer, Jaryn Studer finished eighth in the consolation finals (2:18.02). Louisville’s Gisselle Kohoyda won the event, setting a new BIG EAST and pool record in 2:07.69.
In the men’s 200 fly, Taylor Camp fought to take second, receiving his NCAA “B” cut time of 1:45.37. Jonathan Williamson of Notre Dame took first with a new pool record in 1:44.74. In the consolation finals, Martin Vanis swam to an impressive first place finish (1:48.54) and Kyle Bandy took fifth (1:51.57).
“A great night for the men,” says Riggs. Daeton did very well in the mile and dropped over 30 seconds from his best time for a sixth place finish was great for the men. Eric and Bryce had great swims in finals, along with Q and David. The 100 was an exciting event for us. Tim and Brad did an outstanding job of racing the field. Jack did a fine job in the breast along with Martin and Kyle in the fly. Having Taylor finish the night with his best time and a second place was great.”
The championships concluded with the 400 free relays. The women’s team of Burnett, Smith, Nugent and Fodor raced to a third-place finish with an NCAA “B” cut time of 3:21.87. The men’s relay of Nathan Cobbe, Squires, Eichenseer and Camp fought for third, receiving their NCAA “B” cut time of 2:56.20.
"The men’s relay just miss the school record to cap an outstanding week,” says Riggs. "This senior class, along with the women have done a great job this season. To have Mandie make the “A” cut time in her 200 fly, Rachael win the mile and swimmer of the meet, three of our top backstrokers in the top eight with Danielle taking third, Bree finishing seventh in the breast and our relay getting third was just a great way for the ladies to finish their weekend. It was an honor to watch the final swims this week.”
The team will now wait to hear from the NCAA for any qualifications. The men’s championships will be held in Federal Way, Wash., March 22-24. Nugent will attend the women’s championships in Auburn, Ala., March 15-17.
Mandie Nugent had an amazing swim in the 200 fly, battling with Louisville’s Tanja Kylliainen throughout the race. Nugent pulled ahead in the end to repeat as BIG EAST Champ for the third time, crushing her original BIG EAST record, the pool record receiving her NCAA “A” cut time in 1:54.43. Julie Ogden swam to a fifth-place finish in the event with a time of 2:00.30.
Rachael Burnett set a new BIG EAST and pool record in the 1,650 free with a time of 16:13.39. Her time also earned her an NCAA “B” cut. This is Burnett’s third individual BIG EAST title of the 2012 championships. Joining Burnett on the podium was Kata Fodor, who battled through the 1,650 to take fourth (16:32.34).
“Just a great meet all the way around,” says coach Vic Riggs. “We gave Notre Dame a good push on the first two days and they responded. The reason our ladies swam so well was in part of chasing Notre Dame. I’m really proud of them.”
Daeton Davenport took sixth in the 1,650 free (15:32.28). Notre Dame’s Brennan Jacobsen took first with a time of 15:16.77.
Danielle Smith, originally seeded No. 5, finished third in the 200 back with an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:56.81. Rachael Gorrie took sixth (2:00.07) and Tiera Butkus placed seventh (2:00.47). Kelly Ryan of Notre Dame finished first (1:55.56). Nikki Vetterlein took first in the consolation finals (2:00.21) adding nine points to the women’s total score.
Bryce Bohman and Eric Johnson finished fifth (1:47.59) and seventh (1:48.18) in the 200 back. Pedro Oliveira of Louisville took first in the event with a time of 1:44.23. Jake Querciagrossa battled to a second-place finish in the consolation finals, followed by David Palley in fifth (1:50.42).
The men’s 100 free came down to the final seconds with Tim Squires taking fourth with an NCAA “B” cut time of 44.10 and Brad Eichenseer seventh (44.51). In the consolation finals, Nathan Cobbe finished three places ahead of his seedtime in fourth (44.85). Joao De Lucca of Louisville finished first in the event with a time of 42.95. De Lucca broke the BIG EAST record in the prelims earlier this morning with his time of 42.67.
Jack Greenhalgh stayed consistent in the 200 breast finishing 14th overall. He took sixth in the consolation finals with a time of 2:02.61. Carlos Almeida of Louisville finished first in the finals (1:55.52).
Breanna McCann took seventh in the 200 breast with an NCAA “B” cut time of 2:14.35. In her last swim as a Mountaineer, Jaryn Studer finished eighth in the consolation finals (2:18.02). Louisville’s Gisselle Kohoyda won the event, setting a new BIG EAST and pool record in 2:07.69.
In the men’s 200 fly, Taylor Camp fought to take second, receiving his NCAA “B” cut time of 1:45.37. Jonathan Williamson of Notre Dame took first with a new pool record in 1:44.74. In the consolation finals, Martin Vanis swam to an impressive first place finish (1:48.54) and Kyle Bandy took fifth (1:51.57).
“A great night for the men,” says Riggs. Daeton did very well in the mile and dropped over 30 seconds from his best time for a sixth place finish was great for the men. Eric and Bryce had great swims in finals, along with Q and David. The 100 was an exciting event for us. Tim and Brad did an outstanding job of racing the field. Jack did a fine job in the breast along with Martin and Kyle in the fly. Having Taylor finish the night with his best time and a second place was great.”
The championships concluded with the 400 free relays. The women’s team of Burnett, Smith, Nugent and Fodor raced to a third-place finish with an NCAA “B” cut time of 3:21.87. The men’s relay of Nathan Cobbe, Squires, Eichenseer and Camp fought for third, receiving their NCAA “B” cut time of 2:56.20.
"The men’s relay just miss the school record to cap an outstanding week,” says Riggs. "This senior class, along with the women have done a great job this season. To have Mandie make the “A” cut time in her 200 fly, Rachael win the mile and swimmer of the meet, three of our top backstrokers in the top eight with Danielle taking third, Bree finishing seventh in the breast and our relay getting third was just a great way for the ladies to finish their weekend. It was an honor to watch the final swims this week.”
The team will now wait to hear from the NCAA for any qualifications. The men’s championships will be held in Federal Way, Wash., March 22-24. Nugent will attend the women’s championships in Auburn, Ala., March 15-17.
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