WVU Earns Senior Day Wins

Saturday, January 27

Morgantown, W.Va.

11:00 a.m.

West Virginia University

229

Villanova

Photo by: Jennifer Shephard

January 27, 2018 04:24 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Results

By: Charlie Healy

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men's swimming and diving team defeated Villanova and the women took down Iowa State on Saturday at the WVU Natatorium.

The men won all 16 events to beat Villanova, 229-69. The women won seven of 16 events to defeat Iowa State, 160-140, while falling to Villanova, 163-137.

The men's victory secured a perfect 5-0 record in dual meets, marking the team's first undefeated dual-meet season since 2006-07. The women improved to 4-2 and 2-0 in the Big 12 with the win over the Cyclones.

Sophomore Trayton Saladin led WVU with three individual wins, while senior Logan McHenry and freshman Angelo Russo notched two wins for the men. Sophomore Morgan Bullock had two individual wins and a relay victory to pace the women's squad. Juniors Merwane El Merini and Drew Damich also notched three total wins for the men, one individually and two as part of relays.

"Overall it was a good day, and I felt both teams competed very well," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "This team has had one of the strongest Januarys of training and competing since I've been here, and I feel like they are responding to the challenges in front of them.

"I did feel like we came out a little flat on our energy, and that kind of cost us a bit in the first session. But, once we regrouped, I thought our middle and last sessions were very good. Amelie (Currat), Emma (Harris), Giselle (Gursoy) and Morgan Bullock all had key victories that really turned the meet around for the women. To beat ISU for the first time in a dual meet is special for this group of ladies. Though we lost to Villanova they also gave Villanova a good meet, we just didn't capitalize on a few events. Our divers did a great job today and were a big factor in our win. The men continue to compete very well, and to finish the season with another pool record and to go undefeated is a great way to send them into Big 12s."

Prior to the meet, the Mountaineers honored their 15 seniors: Mariano Adame, Madeline Bolin, Nate Carr, Frank Csonka, Amelie Currat, Taylor Gill, James Koval, Celia Martinez, Logan McHenry, Chris McMahon, Michael Proietto, Drew Riebel, Daniel Rodriguez, Tony Sekowski and Loren Williams.

Additionally, the Mountaineers held a signing day ceremony for 5-year-old Wyatt DeWitt, a Terra Alta, West Virginia, native, as part of a partnership with Team IMPACT.

WVU opened the meet with a pair of wins in the 400 medley relay. The women began with a 3:49.88, followed by a pool-record time from the men. El Merini, junior Tristen DiSibio, freshman David Dixon and Damich posted a 3:19.53 to break the WVU Natatorium record. The women's team featured senior Amelie Currat, junior Emma Harris, Bullock and sophomore Julia Nilton.

The Mountaineer men followed with a strong start individually, as senior James Koval won the 1,000 freestyle, thanks to a time of 9:36.19. Freshman Max Gustafson placed second, with a 9:53.68.

Then, Saladin secured his first victory in the 200 freestyle to lead a 1-2-3 finish for the Mountaineer men. He touched the wall in 1:41.23, followed by senior Nate Carr (1:41.29) just 0.06 seconds behind.

The WVU men followed that 1-2-3 finish with a sweep of the top-four places in the 100 backstroke. Russo led the way with a 49.26, followed by Dixon (50.53) and sophomores Luke Hene (50.72) and Austin Hartke (51.69).

West Virginia saw more of the same in the next event, as the men again finished 1-2-3-4 in the 100 breaststroke. Junior Jake Armstrong's 55.85 led the way, while DiSibio (56.22) placed second.

Junior Morgan Carr earned a win for the women's team in the 200 butterfly. She touched the wall in 2:04.47. For the men, West Virginia finished first and second, led by sophomore Gabe Swardson's 1:53.45. Fellow sophomore Ryan Kelly was second in 1:54.64.

The men earned another sweep of the top-four places in the 50 freestyle. El Merini's 20.48 paced the way, followed by sophomore Sam Neaveill (20.88), Damich (21.10) and senior Frank Csonka (21.14).

Moments later, Damich earned his first individual win of the day in the 100 freestyle. He touched the wall in 45.83, winning by 1.42 seconds.

The Mountaineers then won both 200 backstroke events. Currat finished in 2:00.05 to win by more than two seconds for the women. In the men's race, Saladin earned his second win of the day for WVU with a 1:51.18.

West Virginia again won both races in the next event, the 200 breaststroke. Harris paced the way for the women, finishing with a 2:23.34 and winning a tight race by 0.50 seconds. DiSibio got his second win of the day, and first individually, for the men. He won with a time of 2:04.13.

Later on, Saladin continued his strong day with his third victory in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:34.23.

Bullock earned her first individual win, and second total, in the 100 butterfly, touching the wall in 55.91 to win by one second. In the men's race, Russo followed with his second win of the day, thanks to a 49.06.

Bullock also won the next event, as her second individual win came with a 2:03.81 in the 200 individual medley. The men also won the 200 IM, going 1-2-3-4, led by Dixon's 1:49.24.

The Mountaineers closed the meet with a win in the men's 200 freestyle relay. Neaveill, Nate Carr, Damich and El Merini finished in 1:23.58. The women finished second in 1:35.67, ahead of Iowa State by 0.16 seconds.

The day began on springboard, where West Virginia won three of the four diving events. The men placed first and second on 1-meter and finished 1-2-3 on 3-meter, while the women won the 1-meter event and finished second on 3-meter.

McHenry won both events for the men, scoring a 341.20 on 1-meter and a 338.70 on 3-meter. Senior Michael Proietto placed second, with a 311.20 on 1-meter and a 325.70 on 3-meter. Freshman Caleb Keck finished third on 3-meter with a 283.30.

Junior Julia Calcut won 1-meter for the women with a 263.55. Junior Averly Hobbs' 264.95 earned her a second-place finish on 3-meter, while she was third on 1-meter with a 253.60.

"First of all, I'm going to miss Mike and Logan," WVU diving coach Michael Grapner said. "It has been a pleasure to coach them for the past four years. Let's keep it up and finish strong. Today's meet was pretty good all around. I think the women had a good learning experience and can use today to help prepare for the Big 12 Championship. We have been doing very well in the workouts and all of the pieces continue to fall into place. Now, the emphasis needs to be on consistency. We have the dives, and we have done the work. Over the next few weeks, we'll set our sights on the conference meet and Zones."

Up next, the Mountaineers travel to the Big 12 Championship to begin postseason competition. The event in Austin, Texas, is held from Feb. 21-24.

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