Nov. 12, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn swimming and diving team combined for 16 event wins and 12 NCAA Provision "B" cut times Thursday as the Tigers swept in-state rival Alabama in front of 1,156 fans at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center. The women topped the Crimson Tide, 134-107, while the men defeated Alabama 142-101.
"We started very strong and it was a great team effort overall," Brett Hawke, head swimming and diving coach, said. "The relays set the tone for us and were our cornerstone today. It was a strong meet and I feel that everyone really raced well."
Freshman Katie Gardocki led the women individually, picking up a pair of wins for the second-consecutive meet. The Suffield, Conn., native recorded her first-career B cut time, taking first in the 1650 free in 16:34.88. Gardocki also took first in the 500 free in 4:53.40.
Sophomore Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace returned to the pool and also came away with double wins. She captured first in the 50 free in 23.17 and recorded a B time of 50.18 took take first in the 100 free.
"Katie had another great meet," Hawke said. "She put up some good times and it is exciting to see her do so well. I'm also happy to see Arianna back in the pool and getting a pair of wins."
Also picking up individual victories were senior Melissa Marik, junior Caitlin Geary and sophomore Stephanie Horner. Geary finished first in the 200 free (1:48.96), while Horner touched the wall first in the 200 fly (2:01.45). Marik picked up a B time of 1:58.02 to win the 200 back and was followed closely by junior Erica Meissner, who finished second in the event with a B time of 1:58.23.
The 400 medley relay squad of Marik, Micah Lawrence, Ava Ohlgren and Vanderpool-Wallace opened the meet with a first-place finish in a B time of 3:40.85. The quartet of Geary, Horner, Maggie Bird and Ohlgren finished the meet with a win in the 800 free relay (7:29.56).
Sophomore Vennie Dantin led the way for the Tiger divers. She picked up a NCAA Zone score of 278.77 with a second-place finish on the 1-meter and took fourth on the 3-meter with a Zone score of 288.90.
Leading the way for the men was senior Gideon Louw, who picked up a pair of wins and B times in the 50 free (19.87) and 100 free (44.20). Classmate Tyler McGill tallied a B time of 1:47.56 to take first in the 200 fly, while junior Adam Klein touched the wall first in the 200 breast with a time of 2:00.21.
Freshman Kyle Owens celebrated his 19th birthday with a big win in the 200 individual medley. The Johnson City, Tenn., native came in first with a B time of 1:49.31. Junior Andrew Mitchell came in a close second, finishing in 1:49.86.
"Kyle had a great swim and a great result," Hawke said. "His time is one of the top times in the country and that is very exciting for both him and the team."
The quad of Jared White, Michael Silva, McGill and Christopher Fox tallied a B time of 3:14.67 and win in the 400 medley relay to open the meet. Fox, Louw, McGill and Kohlton Norys finished the night with a B time of 6:41.58 in the 800 free relay.
On the diving side, freshman Thad Ellis finished second on the 1-meter springboard with a NCAA Zone standard score of 338.32, while senior Kelly Marx finished third in a Zone score of 332.69. Marx led the Tigers on the 3-meter with a second-place finish with a Zone score of 404.77.
Auburn returns to the James E. Martin Aquatic Center for a SEC match-up with perennial national contender Georgia on Nov. 20. The meet is set to start a 4 p.m. and admission is free.
Auburn Swimming and Diving
Thursday, November 12, 2009
James E. Martin Aquatic Center; Auburn, Ala.
Team Scores:
Auburn (W) 134; Alabama 107
Auburn (M) 142; Alabama 101
Auburn Event Winners- Women: 400 Medley Relay - 1. Marik, Lawrence, Ohlgren, Vanderpool-Wallace (3:40.84); 1650 Freestyle - 1. Gardocki (16:34.88); 200 Freestyle - 1. Geary (1:48.96); 50 Freestyle - 1. Vanderpool-Wallace (23.17); 200 Butterfly - 1. Horner (2:01.45); 100 Freestyle - 1. Vanderpool-Wallace (50.18); 200 Backstroke - 1. Marik (1:58.02); 500 Freestyle - 1. Gardocki (4:53.40); 800 Freestyle Relay - 1. Geary, Horner, Bird, Ohlgren (7:29.56).
Men: 400 Medley Relay - 1. White, Silva, McGill, Fox (3:14.67); 50 Freestyle - 1. Louw (19.87); 200 IM - 1. Owens (1:49.31); 200 Butterfly - 1. McGill (1:47.56); 100 Freestyle - 1. Louw (44.20); 200 Backstroke - 1. Wollach (1:48.76); 200 Breaststroke - 1. Klein (2:00.21); 800 Freestyle Relay - 1. Fox, Louw, McGill, Norys (6:41.58).