WVU Makes a Statement on Night One of State Games

Friday, October 14

Morgantown, W.Va.

6 p.m.

West Virginia University

691

WV State Games

Photo by: Malia Richardson

October 14, 2022 09:20 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Day 1 Results

By: Reghan Bailey

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men's and women's swimming and diving teams made a statement in the opening night of the 11th annual West Virginia State Games at the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park, in Morgantown.

The Mountaineers combined to win 16 of 18 events during the first session, tallying a total of 1,383 team points, with the men contributing 692 and the women grabbing 691.

Senior Jacqueline McCutchan and sophomore Conner McBeth led the way for West Virginia, both secured three wins, collecting two relay victories and one individual. Sixteen different Mountaineers claimed first-place finishes on the first night of competition.

The 200-yard medley relay officially kicked off the 2022-23 campaign. Starting off with the women, WVU took four of the top five spots, led by a first place finish (1:43.36) from McCutchan, freshman Mia Cheatwood, senior Harna Minezawa and freshman Ada Szwabinska.

On the men's side, the Mountaineers earned their first sweep of the season claiming the top four spots. Junior Justin Heimes, freshman Adam McDonald, senior David Snider and McBeth took first with a time of 1:31.21, followed by three more West Virginia relays.

Over in the diving well, on the men's 1-meter springboard senior Owen Johns secured first with a 297.68), followed by sophomore Glenn Eloriaga (2nd – 275.93), freshman Patrick Burke (3rd – 257.33), sophomore Hayden Apel (4th – 249.83) and freshman Christian Torres (5th – 195.23).

On the women's side, sophomore Sarah Krusinski led the Mountaineers securing second (258.08) on the women's 3-meter springboard. Senior Marian Tiemeier followed in third (254.18), freshmen Abigail Sullivan in fifth (225.30), Bella Reynolds in eighth (201.75) and Elysa Grossman in ninth (200.03), and junior Sara Haggerty in 10th (195.08), respectively.

Of note, this was Haggerty's first time stepping on the springboard since the 2021 Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships.

Back in the pool, junior William Mullen secured the Mountaineers first individual victory of the season. The Fairfax Station, Virginia, native won the men's 1000-meter with a time of 9:26.45, followed by junior Brendan Williams in second (9:42.83).

WVU went on to sweep the rest of the meet. On the women's side, junior Abby Reardon (200 free – 1:51.91), McCutchan (100 back – 56.37), Cheatwood (100 breast – 1:03.51), sophomore Mia Walters (200 fly – 2:04.41) and freshman Ada Szwabinska (50 free – 23.41) all took first in their respective events.

Continuing momentum, on the men's side the Mountaineer men saw individual victories from junior Roanoke Shirk (200 free – 1:41.22), Heimes (100 back – 49.87), McDonald (100 breast – 57.61), freshman Álvaro Santiago (200 fly – 1:52.97) and McBeth (50 free – 20.70).

During the final event of night one, WVU rounded out the sweep in the 400 free relays. The women's relay of Szwabinska, McCutchan, Reardon and Martin touched in 3:27.38, while McBeth, freshman Max Nielsen, Snider and junior Dylan Melin finished with a time of 3:06.20.

The West Virginia State Games conclude Saturday morning, with action at the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park starting at 11 a.m. ET.

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