THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech swimming team travelled to Savannah to take on the SCAD Bees on Saturday. The men’s team won 106-23 and the women’s team won 108-23.
Freshman Defne Tacyildiz turned in the eighth best time in program history in the 200 fly at 2:00.01. This is the freshman’s first official meet since coming to the United States from Turkey. Georgia Tech has recent history with freshman from Turkey setting records as Batur Ünlü took the top spot in the record books in the 200 free and 500 free during his freshman season.
Other freshman standouts for the White and Gold include Rachel Fulton who won the 50 free event with a time of 23.77. This is 0.47 seconds away from cracking the top-10 all-time at Georgia Tech for women’s 50 free. Sophie Murphy followed up the showing in the very next event winning with a time of 51.31 seconds in the 100 free. This is just a half a second from cracking the top-10 in the women’s 100 free.
Senior Emily Graham swam her best time collegiately in the 100 breast at 1:04.07. The transfer from Alabama had her previous best with Georgia Tech at the Auburn Invitational recording a time of 1:04.46.
Women’s Highlights:
The team of Astrid Dirkzwager, Graham, Tacyildiz and Brooke Switzer took home first in the 400 medley (3:48.48). Lily Burke placed first in the 1000 free (10:42.58). Zora Ripkova touched first in the 200 free (1:51.53) and 100 fly (55.71). Dirkzwager took home the individual top spot in the 100 back (58.85) and 200 back (2:04.90).
Claudia Butterfield took the top spot in the 200 breast (2:16.59). Switzer finished first in the 500 free (5:06.82). McKenzie Campbell clocked the best time in the 200 IM (2:07.45). In the final event, Fulton, Ripkova, Murphy and Burke paced the field in the 200 free relay (1:36.43).
Men’s Highlights:
The team of Kyle Barone, Daniel Kertesz, Antonio Romero and Tyler Branscombe had the top time in the 400 medley relay (3:20.82). Clark Wakeland touched first in the 1000 free (9:25.40). Ünlü took home the top spot in the 200 free (1:39.00). Berke Saka placed first in the 100 back (51.45), 200 back (1:48.99) and 200 IM (1:50.83). Caio Pumputis snatched the top spot in the 100 breast (55.26).
Christian Ferraro took home the top times in the 100 fly (50.89) and 200 fly (1:50.33). Kertesz sprinted his way to the top spot in the 50 free (21.42) and 100 free (45.71). Matt Steele had the top time in the 200 breast (2:03.62). Mert Kilavuz was the top swimmer in the 500 free (4:35.69). In the final event, Pumputis, Ferraro, Barone and Branscombe paced the field in the 200 free relay (1:25.04).
The next meet for Georgia Tech comes against Florida State at home in the McAuley Aquatic Center. This will be the only home meet for the Yellow Jackets in October. With October being breast cancer awareness month, the Jackets will be handing out pink shirts to the first 200 fans in attendance.
Georgia Tech Swimming and Diving is always trying to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. On Oct. 2, the team swam at Lake Lanier in Swim Across America raising over $11,000. Donations are accepted through Nov. 2. If you would like to donate, you can do so by clicking here.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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