Nov. 3, 2012
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech men’s swimming & diving team won nine events, but Virginia Tech pulled out a narrow 178-122 win over the Yellow Jackets Saturday at the GT Aquatic Center. The women dropped a pair of dual meets to the Hokies and Florida Gulf Coast.
Sophomore Andrew Kosic had another strong showing for Tech, as the sprinter won both the 50 and 100 free events, and swam on both the winning 400 medley relay and 200 free relay. Kosic, who was the ACC men’s swimmer of the week earlier this season, was clocked in 20.54 in winning the 50 free and 45.07 in the 100.
Both the Jacket and Hokie men’s team were receiving votes in the latest CSCAA Top 25 poll. The Tech men slipped to 1-2, 0-1 in the ACC, while the women fell to 1-3, 0-1.
“Andrew had another very good meet for us,” said head coach Courtney Shealy Hart. “The men won nine events, but winning an event is not the only goal for us. College swimming is a team effort and we need swimmers to step up behind guys Andrew, Nico (van Duijn) and Matt (Vaughan). We were pretty banged up today, and had some others down with illness, but that’s no excuse for both the men or the women. We can be better and have a lot to work on before the GT Invitational later this month.”
Kosic teamed with Bo Hatchett, Matthew Vaughan and Nico van Duijn to win the 400 medley relay (3:18.98), while Kosic and van Duijn swam with Andrew Chetcuti and Eric Chiu in winning the 200 free relay (1:22.38).
Vaughan doubled in taking both the 100 breast (55.87) and 200 breast (2:04.32), and van Duijn posted a victory in the 100 fly (48.99).
For the third time in as many meets this season, senior diver Brandon Makinson was victorious on both the 1-meter (361.60 points) and the 3-meter (380.85) springboards events.
“I’m very proud of what Brandon has done this year for us,” said Hart. “Virginia Tech has some very talented divers, so for him to win both those events today was important. He’s worked hard in the off-season and that has paid off for him.”
Sophomore Kate Woolbright gave the Yellow Jacket women their victory, as she took the 1,650 free in a winning time of 17:09.94.
The Jackets were down a number of key women’s swimmers due to both illness and injury.
The Hokies beat the Jackets, 221-79, while FGCU edge the White & Gold, 169-131.
Tech returns to action Nov. 30-Dec. 2 with the GT Invitational.
