THE FLATS – Georgia Tech swimming and diving finished invitational much like it started, with school records and impressive performances at the McAuley Aquatic Center.
The 20th-ranked men’s team finished third in the invitational with 764.5 points, defeating No. 12 Alabama and No. 16 Virginia Tech. The women’s team finished eighth with 434 points.
“The effort and energy that our team brought this weekend was great,” head coach Courtney Shealy Hart said. “We were able to host top teams in the nation and hold our own and that’s a credit to the team and our staff for the hard work they’ve put in. Hopefully this test will drive us during the holidays and training as we truly get ready for championships season. I’m especially proud tonight of Caio and Rod. Caio getting the 200 breast A cut is a testament to his work ethic. Rod breaking the record in the 200 back also shows the amount of focus and work he’s put in. On the women’s side, I thought Iris and Morgan swam well. I’m also proud of Paige and Matt today in the platform and for Cami and Nolan as well.
The Jackets will compete next on November 28th at the USA Winter Nationals Event in Greensboro, North Carolina. The event spans from Thursday, November 28th till Saturday, December 1st.
Men’s Highlights
Leading the way for the men’s side was a pair of broken school records by Rodrigo Correia and Caio Pumputis. Correia won the 200 back with a program-best NCAA B qualifying time of 1:40.94, while Pumputis broke the 200 breast, winning with an NCAA A qualifying time of 1:52.38.
Christian Ferraro gave GT another victory by winning the 200 fly with an NCAA B time of 1:41.56, almost three seconds ahead of the field. Also finishing fourth overall was Tim Slanschek, who swam an NCAA B cut of 1:44.84, while Colt Williamson recorded a 10th-place time of 1:50.88. Clay Hering won the B final of the 200 fly, turning in a time of 1:47.44.
In the platform diving event, Matt Casillas had a fine outing, turning in a score of 363.15, while Nolan Mallet finished eighth overall with a score of 292.80.
In the long-distance 1650 free, freshman Cale Russel had an impressive showing, finishing ninth with a time of 15:27.90, just seconds before Brennan Day finished 10th by swimming a 15:29.11.
Also in the 200 back final was Williamson, who also turned in a NCAA B cut by winning the B finals with a time of 1:42.42. Freshman Kyle Barone finished sixth in the C final by swimming a 1:48.21.
Also in the 200 breast was Jonathan Yang, who finished third in the B final to place 13th overall with a 2:01.16, while Brennan Day raced to an eighth-place B final performance (2:02.51). Joseph Portillo and Tanner Doan rounded out Tech’s four finalists with a third-place C final time of 2:01.75 and a fourth-place C final time of 2:01.85, respectively.
Freshman Darren Lim turned in an impressive 100 free to finish eighth overall with a time of 43.83 – just 0.83 seconds from a NCAA B time. In the B final, Austin Daniel battled to finish sixth with a time of 44.58.
In the evening relays, Georgia Tech’s team of Pumputis, Correia, Lim and Ferraro raced to a fourth-place time of 2:52.79 in the 400 free relay.
Women’s Highlights
Iris Wang once again led Georgia Tech by finishing third in the 100 free, posting a NCAA B qualifying time of 49.03.
In diving, Paige Gohr had a terrific day in the platform, scoring 245.55 to finish third overall. Teammate Camryn Hidalgo also finished in the top 10 with a score of 237.70.
Caroline Lee finished sixth in the B final of the 200 back and 16th overall with a time of 1:57.87, before Allie Paschal finished seventh in the B final with a time of 1:58.58. The Jackets were also represented by Jami Williams (2:00.61) and Grace Mauldin (2:00.95) in the C final, who finished fifth and seventh, respectively.
In the endurance test of the 1650 free, freshman Morgan Johnson raced to a seventh-place time of 16:38.18. Freshman Maddie Hadd also finished in the top 15 with a 14th-place time of 16:49.44.
Emily Ilgenfritz turned in a fine C final performance in the 200 fly when she kicked to a 2:01.24 time (fourth). She finished just ahead of teammates Lauran Branton (sixth) and Lila Best (seventh), who turned in 2:02.38 and 2:02.88 swims, respectively.
In the 200 breast B final, Kristen Hepler swam to a third-place time of 2:14.92 (14th overall), while Florina Ilie won the C final with a time of 2:16.49, edging out Nicole Williams, who finished second with a 2:16.79.
In the evening relays, the Yellow Jackets’ squad of Wang, Best, Sara Gilbert and Ilgenfritz finished ninth in the 400 free relay by swimming a 3:22.44.
Tech Tidbits
* Rodrigo Correia broke the men’s 200 back record finishing in first place with a time of 1:40.94
* Caio Pumputis broke the men’s 200 breast record where he finished in first with a time of 1:52.38.
* Allie Paschal finished with a career-best time in the women’s 200 back with a time of 1:58.58
* Jami Williams finished with a career-best time in the women’s 200 back with a time of 2:01.50
* Kyle Baron finished with a career-best time in the men’s 200 back with a time of 1:48.16
* Sara Gilbert finished with a career-best time in the women’s 100 free event with a time of 51.49
* Celine Nugent finished with a career-best time in the women’s 100 free event with a time of 51.51
* Catriona MacGregor finished with a career-best time in the women’s 100 free event with a time of 52.29
* Morgan Johnson finished with a career-best time in the women’s 100 free event with a time of 52.88
* Jami Williams finished with a career-best time in the women’s 100 free event with a time of 54.12
* Darren Lim finished with a career-best time in the men 100 free event with a time of 43.71
* Austin Daniel finished with a career-best time in the men 100 free event with a time of 44.45
* Daniel Jacobs finished with a career-best time in the men 100 free event with a time of 46.82
* Tyler Branscombe finished with a career-best time in the men 100 free event with a time of 46.97
* Nicole Williams finished with a career-best time in the women’s 200 breast event with a time of 2:16.79
* Tanner Doan finished with a career-best time in the men’s 200 breast event with a time of 2:01.85
* Lila Best finished with a career-best time in the women’s 200 fly with a time of 2:02.88
* Maddie Hadd finished with a career-best time in the women’s 200 fly with a time of 2:04.93
* Colt Williamson finished with a career-best time in the men’s 200 fly with a time of 1:46.35
* Aidan Brook finished with a career-best time in the men’s 200 fly with a time of 1:58.96
* Paige Gohr finished with a career-best score in platform diving with a score of 245.55
* Jordyn Sak finished with a career-best score in platform diving with a score of 209.65
* Nolan Mallet finished with a career-best score in platform diving with a score of 287.55
* Morgan Johnson finished with a career-best time in the women’s 1650 free with a time of 16:38.18
* Maddie Hadd finished with a career-best time in the women’s 1650 free with a time of 16:49.44
* Cale Russell finished with a career-best time in the men’s 1650 free with a time of 15:27.90
* Brennan Day finished with a career-best time in the men’s 1650 free with a time of 15:29.11
* Clark Wakeland finished with a career-best time in the men’s 1650 free with a time of 15:41.38
* Aidan Brook finished with a career-best time in the men’s 1650 free with a time of 16:29.28
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