Sept. 28, 2013
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech swimming team opened up its 2013-14 season with a win against Limestone at the GT Aquatic Center. The men’s team won 160-94, while the women’s team recorded a 164-87 victory.
“I was very happy with the way we raced today,” said head coach Courtney Shealy Hart. “One of our focuses this year was on fitness levels both in and out of the pool. I think it showed today with how strong we are. We were broken down and tired but yet we are still racing hard. We want to be really specific with our team goals and they are doing a really good job. We saw some things we need to work on but that’s where we are right now and we are excited that we have our first meet finished. They did a good job.”
The Yellow Jackets claimed first in every race besides the men’s 100 breast and following event 24 — the men’s 500 free — the meet was exhibitioned.
Sophomore Erika Staskevicius notched three wins against Limestone with victories in the 50 free (24.08), 100 free (52.34) and the 200 free relay (1:38.33).
Staskevicius was joined by freshman Elise Breaux, sophomore Darelle Cowley and redshirt freshmen Chiara Ruiu in the 200 free relay. Breaux also finished first in the 100 yard fly (59.99) in her first meet as a Yellow Jacket.
The 400 medley relay team of sophomores Carly Sweeney, Cowley, Frederique Lefebvre and Katherine Kerman swam to a first place finish (3:57.81). Sweeney also took first in the 200 back (2:09.21) while Lefebvre won the 400 IM (4:35.89).
With a time of 1:53.02, senior Hailey White won the 200 free and was victorious in the 500 free (5:08.34). Junior Catherine Richards took the 100 breast (1:07.81) and the 200 breast (2:25.71).
Also recording wins for Tech were freshman Xanna Tracy in the 100 back (58.65), junior Kate Brandus in the 200 fly (2:07.36) and junior Kate Woolbright in the 1,000 free (10:39.75).
On the men’s side, junior Nico van Duijn won the 200 fly (1:51.56). He also teamed up with Andrew Kosic, Mark Sarman and Andrew Chetcuti to finish first in the men’s 400 medley relay (3:25.89). Kosic, van Duijn, freshman Robert Borowicz and freshman Taylor Wilson won the 200 free relay (1:23.38).
Kosic recorded two more wins Saturday, finishing first in the 50 free (20.63) and the 100 free (45.46). Sarman’s time of 51.29 in the 100 yard fly was good for first. Sophomore Yuval Safra was the victor in the 1,000 free (9:36.51) and the 200 backstroke (1:55.31).
In his first collegiate swim meet, freshman Ben Southern finished in the 200 free (1:43.88) and first in the 500 free (4:40.03). Freshman Spencer Johnston also won his first race, finishing first in the 100 yard backstroke (52.94).
Senior Andreas Nilsson won the 200 breaststroke (2:10.65) and the 400 IM (4:10.19).
The Yellow Jackets travel to face Georgia on Oct. 15 at 4 p.m.
