Virginia Splits with Tennessee to Open Season

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Oct. 16, 2015

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-The Virginia swimming and diving teams picked up a split against Tennessee Friday afternoon (Oct. 16) at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The Cavalier women (1-0) were victorious, 174-121, while the Tennessee men defeated UVA (0-1), 210-90. The win for the Virginia women was the 300th dual meet victory in program history.

“Overall, a very solid effort from the team,” UVa head coach Augie Busch said. “The goal now will be even better in two weeks when we go to Michigan and face two very good programs in Michigan and Penn State. There were some great relay splits on both sides, and it was good to get a win on the women’s side. We were out-touched on a bunch of races on the men’s side, so we need to a better job of learning how to finish races.”

Virginia won 11 events on the day, highlighted by the women’s 400 medley relay of senior Courtney Bartholomew (Holland, Mich.) and juniors Laura Simon (Simmern, Germany), Kaitlyn Jones (Newark, Del.) and Ellen Thomas (Guildford, United Kingdom), who set an AFC pool record in 3:35.50.

Sophomore Cece Williams (Tallahassee, Fla.) won the women’s 200 free (1:48.54) and 500 free (4:51.59) and was second to junior Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the 1,000 free (9:55.89-9:56.80).

Simon swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 1:01.26 and the 200 in 2:12.75, while Bartholomew swept the backstroke events, taking the 100 in 52.86 and the 200 in 1:54.42.

Senior Yannick Kaeser (Mumpf, Switzerland) placed first in the men’s 200 breast in 1:59.96 and second in the 100 in 54.71. Freshman Zach Fong (Moorestown, N.J.) finished second in three different events, including the men’s 100 fly (49.47), 200 fly (1:49.70) and the 400 IM (4:00.63).

Other event winners were Thomas in the women’s 100 free (50.00) and sophomore Jennifer Marrkand (Westford, Mass.) in the women’s 200 fly (1:58.27).

In diving, the Cavaliers hit six NCAA Zone qualifying marks, including senior Carl Buergler (Arlington, Va.) on both men’s boards, placing third in each event. Fellow senior Colby Shinholser (Hyattsville, Md.) also qualified on 1-meter. Senior Becca Corbett (Louisville, Ky.) placed second on women’s 3-meter with a score of 304.43, while freshman Kylie Towbin (New Canaan, Conn.) and senior Katie Warburg (Wilton, Conn.) also earned qualifying marks.

“We had a great meet today,” UVA head diving coach Jason Glorius said. “Our focus was on making corrections during the meet that will allow us to dive more consistently once championship season arrives. We were able to accomplish that today. I saw a ton of great effort in that regard and we competed well.”

The Cavaliers return to action Oct. 31-Nov. 1 against Michigan and Penn State in Ann Arbor, Mich.