No. 1 Virginia Women Win, Men Fourth at UGA Fall Invite
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Dec. 6, 2015
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ATHENS, Ga.–The Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams won two events and broke two school records on the final day of the Georgia Fall Invitational Sunday (Dec. 6) at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga.
The No. 1 Cavalier women won the meet with 1006.5 points, ahead of No. 3 Georgia (926), No. 8 Auburn (330), No. 20 Penn State (528.5), Florida State (330) and Vanderbilt (165). The Virginia men finished fourth with 510 points, behind No. 4 Georgia (939.5), No. 2 California (913) and No. 9 Auburn (833.5), but ahead of Florida State (446) and Penn State (158).
The Cavaliers finished the weekend with a total of 12 event wins and six school records broken.
“I am so proud of this team,” UVA head coach Augie Busch said. “The way they supported each other throughout the entire meet, men and women, speaks volumes about their character and our culture. From a results standpoint, it was a very successful meet for us with several school records and NCAA qualifiers. I am excited for our young men’s team, who has an undeniable sense of togetherness and passion for the sport. Our women’s team is also nothing but a joy to work with, full of great people who work hard everyday in their quest for unprecedented greatness and program-first achievements. The staff and I are so energized to get back to work on what we know can be a special spring semester.”
Senior Courtney Bartholomew won the women’s 200 back in a time of 1:49.63, the top time in the country so far. Sophomore Jennifer Marrkand (Westport, Mass.) placed fourth in 1:54.72. Marrkand’s prelim time of 1:52.96 ranks fourth on UVA’s all-time list.
Junior Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) captured the women’s 1,650 free in a nation-leading time of 15:39.56. Senior Hanne Borgersen (Frederick, Md.) was seventh in 16:34.70.
In the men’s 200 breast, senior Yannick Kaeser (Mumpf, Switzerland) finished second in a school-record time of 1:53.54.
The women’s 400 free relay of juniors Shannon Rauth (Glenmoore, Pa.) and Ellen Thomas (Guildford, United Kingdom), freshman Megan Moroney (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) and Bartholomew placed second in a school-record time of 3:14.69.
The Cavaliers had five competitors in the top eight of the women’s 100 free, led by Thomas in 48.49, which ranks second on UVA’s all-time list. Moroney was third (48.74), sophomore Caitlin Cooper (Atlanta, Ga.) was fourth (49.04), Rauth was seventh (49.37) and freshman Eryn Eddy (Lovelace, Colo.) was eighth (49.48).
Senior Becca Corbett (Louisville, Ky.) finished third in women’s platform diving with a score of 239.05. Marrkand placed third in the women’s 200 fly in a time of 1:56.09, just .04 off of her prelim time (1:56.05), which ranks sixth on UVA’s all-time list.
The men’s 400 free relay of sophomore Nicholas Magana (Scottsdale, Ariz.), junior Austin Quinn (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), sophomore Luke Georgiadis (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Matt Lockman (Charlottesville, Va.) finished fourth in a time of 2:55.48. Magana’s lead-off 100 free split was 43.59, which ranks sixth on UVA’s all-time list.
In the women’s 200 breast, junior Laura Simon (Simmern, Germany) placed fourth in 2:09.07, while senior Natalie Martin (Haymarket, Va.) was seventh (2:14.79) and freshman Vivian Tafuto (Hummelstown, Pa.) finished eighth (2:15.84).
Freshman Sam Magnan (Bethlehem, Pa.) finished fifth in the men’s 1,650 free in 15:10.77.
In men’s platform diving, senior Colby Shinholser (Burtonsville, Md.) placed fifth with a score of 329.55, ranking fifth on UVA’s all-time list, while fellow seniors Jordan Sacks (Wilmette, Ill.) and Carl Buergler (Arlington, Va.) finished seventh (275.45) and eighth (274.00).
“We completed a strong meet today with a much-needed tower event,” UVA head diving coach Jason Glorius said. “It is nice to get some experience up there and do some dives in a meet that we’ve only been practicing. I’m very happy with our efforts and results this weekend.”
Magana placed seventh in the men’s 100 free in a time of 44.01, sixth on UVA’s all-time list. Quinn finished eighth in the men’s 200 back in 1:46.22. Freshman Zach Fong (Moorestown, N.J.) placed 11th overall in the men’s 200 fly in 1:45.79.
The Cavaliers return to action Jan. 8-9, 2016, against Notre Dame at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. Admission to UVA home meets is free to the public.