MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men's and women's swimming and diving teams began dual meet action with a loss to Kentucky on Friday at the Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
 
The men's swimming and diving team battled with the Wildcats, but ultimately lost, 168-132. The women's swimming and diving lost to UK, 222-77.
 
The Mountaineers began the meet with the 400-yard medley relay as the men's relay team comprised of seniors Justin Heimes, Danny Berlitz, Braden Osborn and Conner McBeth finished second with a time of 3:19.03.
 
In the 1650-yard freestyle, the women's team had a strong showing as seniors Emily Knorr and Miranda Kirtley placed second and third, respectively. Knorr touched the wall at 17:36.97 and Kirtley finished at 17:42.17.
 
Heimes was the first Mountaineer to win an event as he placed first in the 100-yard backstroke (49.76). Sophomore Victoria Kidney was the lone Mountaineer on the women's team to win an individual event, placing first in the 100 butterfly (57.40).
 
Berlitz picked up right where he left off at the West Virginia State Games, winning three individual events in the 100 breaststroke (55.51), 200 breaststroke (2:01.70) and 200 individual medley (1:48.76).
 
For the women's team, freshman MJ Gilligan was impressive, placing third in the 200 butterfly (2:04.90) and the 200 IM (2:11.55). Senior Morgan Burton placed just ahead of Gilligan in the 200 IM, finishing second at 2:09.78.
 
Senior Conner McBeth earned another win for WVU, placing first in the 100 freestyle (45.11).
 
One of the most exciting performances of the day came in the 200 butterfly as the Mountaineers took the top spots. Freshman Joey Stebbins touched the wall at 1:50.22 just ahead of redshirt sophomore Christian Simpson at 1:51.65 to earn the win for WVU.
 
In the diving well, sophomore Owen Recker was fantastic on the 3-meter, placing first with 340.05 total points. Recker also placed second on the 1-meter with 309.53 points.
 
Senior Sarah Krusinski led the women's team on the 1-meter, placing second with 275.93 points.
 
West Virginia returns to Morgantown to face Big 12 Conference foe Cincinnati from Nov. 1-2 at The Peak Health Aquatic Center at Mylan Park.

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