Jan. 5, 2017
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech swimming and diving team will start off the 2017 calendar year with a double-dual meet versus both Kentucky and Virginia Tech this weekend, Jan.6-7, in Blacksburg, Va.
“It is championship season now and we are looking forward to competing this weekend against two very good teams in Kentucky and Virginia Tech,” stated head coach Courtney Shealy Hart. “We had a very good winter training session with our swimmers in Florida and our diving team had some great workouts over break at home in McAuley. We have steadily worked hard throughout the season and now is the time when we need to transfer all that hard work in the weight room and in the water to competition. I expect us to compete and to continue to make improvements across the board as we begin the championship season.”
The Yellow Jackets are coming off a clean sweep of both the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Florida Atlantic Owls on Dec. 19 in a double-dual meet over their winter training session in Naples Fla.
The men’s team defeated the Bearcats 143-62 and the Owls 168-37, while the women’s team beat UC 116-89 and FAU 169.5-35.5.
The men’s team, which is ranked No. 25 overall in the latest CSCAA Top-25 and NCAA rankings (Dec. 6), are 4-2 this season in dual meet action and 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with wins over Boston College and Pittsburgh. The Yellow Jackets blew past BC 231-68 and defeated Pitt 199-100 in Chestnut Hill, Mass. back on Oct. 8.
The Yellow Jackets posted seven individual first-place finishes last time out versus UC and FAU – Rodrigo Quadros Correia in the 200 free (1:38.33), Aidan Pastel in the 50 free (21.40),Brennan Day in the 400 IM (4:03.55),Ben Southern in the 200 fly (1:50.31),Noah Harasz in the 100 free (45.66),Robert Borowicz in the 200 back (1:50.24) and Moises Loschi in the 200 breast (2:01.39).
The women’s team, who is 4-3 overall in dual meet action this season, will look to move to 2-2 in the ACC with a win over Virginia Tech this weekend. The Yellow Jackets, who are 1-2 in the ACC, posted a 249-50 win over Boston College back on Oct. 8.
The women’s team also recorded multiple individual wins last time out in the double-dual meet in Florida versus Cincinnati and FAU, totaling four for the meet – Kaitlin Kitchens in the 50 free (23.84),Chiara Ruiu in the 400 IM (4:27.40),Alex Rieger in the 200 back (2:02.39) and Florina Ilie in the 200 breast (2:17.48).
The women’s team also took first-place in the 200 free relay (1:35.38) and in the 200 medley relay (1:45.13) events on Dec. 19.
The Kentucky Wildcat swimmers will return to the pool for competition for the first time since the AT&T Winter National Championships on Nov. 30 thru Dec. 3, while the divers will be back in action after taking part in the Tennessee Diving Invitational on Jan. 3-5.
The Kentucky men’s team enters the meet this weekend at 4-3 overall in dual meet competition on the season. The Wildcats are coming off of wins over Southern Illinois (313-56) and Northwestern (247-98) at the UK Quad Meet back on Nov. 4-5.
The No. 18 ranked UK women’s team is 2-4 overall in duals on the season and is also coming off wins over SIU (288-72) and Northwestern (246-107) in their last dual meet.
Both the Virginia Tech men’s and women’s team will hit the water for competition for the first time in 2017 this weekend, as the Hokies last competed at the H2Okie Fall Invitational on Nov. 17-19.
The men’s team is a perfect 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in dual meet action in the ACC with wins over Penn State (175-117), Duke (210-141.5), William & Mary (277-69), West Virginia (290-62), Pitt (261-92) and Notre Dame (203-150).
The VT women’s team is 4-2 on the year in dual meet action and 1-2 against the ACC. The Hokies have posted wins over Penn State (174-121), William & Mary (281-65), West Virginia (286-66) and Pitt (231.5-121.5). Their lone two losses have both come against ACC competition in Duke (189.5-163) and Notre Dame (190-163).
The double-dual meet will consist of two days of competition. Day 1 will begin on Friday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. Day 2 is set for a 9 a.m. start time on Saturday, Jan. 7.
Live results for both days of competition can be found HERE.
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