Records Fall as WVU Sweeps Day One at WV State Games

October 06, 2017 09:54 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Joe Mitchin

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University swimming and diving teams officially opened the 2017-18 regular season in record-setting fashion at the West Virginia State Games on Friday, Oct. 6, at the WVU Natatorium.

The Mountaineers swept all 12 events in the opening night of the two-day competition, highlighted by pool-record performances by redshirt senior Nate Carr and sophomore Morgan Bullock in the men's and women's 200 individual medley.

"It was a great start to the weekend for both the men and the women," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "The divers got us off with a very strong performance on the boards. Our energy was really strong from the start and maintained throughout the session, which I thought was very impressive. Our relays were very strong today and breaking two pool records in the first session of our first meet was very exciting. We need to continue this energy in our swimming and diving tomorrow to finish the meet as strong as we started."

Bullock earned a time of 2:04.46 in the women's 200 individual medley, breaking WVU teammate Morgan Carr's pool record of 2:04.59 from the 2015 WVSSAC State Swimming Championships. Moments later, Nate Carr broke his own WVU Natatorium record with a time of 1:48.97. The Charleston, West Virginia, native topped his old mark (1:49.81) by nearly a second.

Carr and Bullock joined junior Merwane El Merini and sophomore Julia Nilton as three-time winners on the night. All four swimmers were a part of two first-place relay teams.

The West Virginia State Games features seven swimming and diving programs from across the state of West Virginia. The Mountaineers were joined by Davis & Elkins, Fairmont State, Marshall, Salem International, West Virginia Institute of Technology and West Virginia Wesleyan.

After the first day of competition, the WVU men's team captured a first-place score of 565, while the women earned a team score of 472.5 to also sit in first place.

The WV State Games conclude on Saturday at the WVU Natatorium, featuring 28 total events split between two sessions. Competition begins at 10 a.m. ET, with the second session set for 4 p.m.

Friday's competition began on the springboard with senior Logan McHenry winning the men's 1-meter, earning an NCAA Zone-qualifying score of 314.40 in the process. Senior Michael Proietto also grabbed an NCAA Zone-qualifying score, finishing second in the event with a score of 304.72. Junior Austin Smith placed third with a score of 263.99.

For the women, junior Averly Hobbs took the 3-meter dive, earning a first-place score of 260.40. The Littleton, Colorado, native was the first of a 1-2-3-4 Mountaineer finish in the event. Junior Julia Calcut (252.00) placed second, while junior Madelyn Woods (231.22) and freshman Callie Smith (220.87) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Swimming events began with the women's 200 freestyle, which continued a big night for the Mountaineers. The WVU team of Nilton, Bullock and freshmen Sofia Bernard and Giselle Gursoy earned a winning time of 1:35.05.

On the men's side, a team of Carr, El Merini, junior Drew Damich and sophomore Sam Neaveill won in a time of 1:22.34. Second place was the WVU team of sophomore Matthew Marsh, redshirt senior Frank Csonka, freshman Angelo Russo and sophomore Austin Hartke.

In the women's 500 free, sophomore Alex Pampalone grabbed the victory in a time of 5:05.06. Gursoy, who was one of 12 Mountaineers making their collegiate debut on Friday, finished fourth.

Sophomore Trayton Saladin recorded the 500 free win for the men in a time of 4:32.62. The Mountaineer men earned the top seven finishes in the event, including senior James Koval and sophomore Ryan Kelly, who finished second and third, respectively.

Next came Carr and Bullock's big moments in the men's and women's 200 individual medley. First, Bullock broke the WVU Natatorium record in the event with a winning time of 2:04.46, before Carr broke his own pool record moments later in a time of 1:48.97.

In all, WVU took the first nine spots in the event on the men's side.

In the women's 50 free, the Mountaineers earned a 1-2-3 finish, paced by Nilton's winning time of 23.90. Bullock came in second at 24.24, while Bernard finished in third place (24.49).

Then, El Merini won his second event of the evening, placing first in the men's 50 free in a time of 20.71. Damich (21.12) took second, while Neaveill earned a third-place finish (21.41) for the Mountaineers.

The WVU women closed out their first night of competition with a win in the 400 medley relay. The Mountaineers' team of Bullock, Nilton, junior Emma Harris and sophomore Julia Miranda earned a time of 3:51.56. Senior Amelie Currat, freshman Olivia Heflin, junior Maggie Miller and Bernard teamed up to take third in the event.

For the men, the West Virginia team of Carr, El Merini, Russo and freshman David Dixon posted a first-place time of 3:22.06. The Mountaineers took second place in the event as well, with sophomore Luke Hene, redshirt junior Tristen DiSibio, sophomore Gabe Swardson and Damich earning a time of 3:25.95.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.