Hokie ClubCHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech swimming and diving teams defeated the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s squads and the Miami women in its last dual meet of the season on Saturday at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. The H2Okie men topped Georgia Tech, 196-104, while the women swept the Yellow Jackets, 172-127, and the Hurricanes, 209-89.
The women finished their 2011-12 dual season 8-4 overall and 4-3 in the conference, while the men improved to 8-3 on the season and 5-2 in the ACC.
“I continue to be very proud of this senior class,” commented head coach Ned Skinner. “All 11 of these student-athletes are living their life for our program and are doing everything they can to swim fast and dive well for us. The team is responding well to our racing at this point of the season and although they are tired, they are sharpening up their skills as we head into the championship part of the season.”
The H2Okies started the day out strong taking the first four events. The women jumped out ahead as the 200 medley relay team consisting of Sabrina Benson, Alyssa Bodin, Heather Savage and Emily Ferguson swam a first-place time of 1:42.94. The men’s team of Charlie Higgins, Nathan Hoisington, Greg Mahon and Greg Morgan also took first place in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:30.33.
In the next individual events, senior Erika Hajnal took home her first out of three the golds as she swam a time of 10:05.71 in the 1000 freestyle. Freshman Jake Ores finished first in the 1000 free as well, swimming a time of 9:23.72 which set a new pool record.
“Erika Hajnal has rewritten the book on being a prolific student-athlete. Every time she touches the water she is getting faster and does it all to help Virginia Tech which is very satisfying,” said Skinner.
After Georgia Tech took the next two events, placing first in both 200 freestyles, Benson and Zach McGinnis won the 100 backstrokes. Benson swam a time of 55.98 for the women, while McGinnis touched the wall at the 48.77 mark for the men.
Miami took home the gold in the 100 breaststroke for the women, while Emmitt Dignan swam a time of 57.43 to finish first for the men. Following the 100 breaststroke, Savage took home the gold in the 200 butterfly as she swam a time of 2:02.63.
In the men’s 200 fly, James Crabb and Georgia Tech’s Nico van Duijin tied for first place with a time of 1:50.46, while Nick Tremols and Karl Botha followed behind taking third and fourth place, respectively.
Before the break, Georgia Tech swept the 50 freestyles. Senior Emily Ferguson finished third for the women with a time of 23.83, while Mahon placed third as well for the men.
In the 100 freestyle, senior Bryan Uncur and Georgia Tech’s Andrew Kosic both touched the wall at the 45.34 mark tying for first place. Morgan followed with a time of 45.64 to take third place.
Brittany Boone swam a top-3 finish as she recorded a time of 2:03.24 to come in second place in the 200 backstroke. McGinnis took home the 200 back title for the men with a time of 1:49.53 for his second title of the day, while Tom Sheranek, Collin Higgins and Michael Hallock all followed taking second, third and fourth place, respectively.
In the 200 breaststroke, Keri Sink and Owen Burns both took second place for Tech. Sink swam a time of 2:23.52 for the women, while Burns touched the wall at the 2:08.21 mark for the men.
Hajnal took home her second title of the day in the 500 freestyle. She swam a time of 4:59.39 which was four seconds faster than second place. Ores took home the title for the men in the 500 free for his second title also. He swam a time of 4:35.27, while senior Blake Trabuchi-Downey followed as he placed second.
Savage took home her second title of the day in the 100 butterfly, setting a new pool record with a time of 54.88. Mahon won the gold in the 100 fly for the men, as he swam a time of 48.61.
Hajnal took her final title of the day when she swam a time of 2:04.40 in the 200 IM, while Owen Burns finished first for the men with a time of 1:53.13. Mahon and Tremols followed close behind coming in at the second and third spots, respectively.
In the final event, Georgia Tech finished the meet taking home both titles in the 400 freestyle relay.
In diving competition, Kaylea Arnett continues to impress as she swept both events. She set a new pool record in the women’s 3-meter event, tallying a score of 341.25 which was 21 points better than her previous pool record (320.25) set on Oct. 15 against NC State and James Madison. In the 1-meter, she scored a 299.95, while Logan Kline followed in second place with a score of 294.30.
For the men, Ryan Hawkins placed first in the 1-meter event with a score of 349.60, while Logan Shinholser took the gold in the 3-meter with a season-best 403.80 just six points shy of his career best.
“I am very pleased with our divers today,” commented head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “Miami and Georgia Tech are very strong diving programs and to win all four events was a great accomplishment. Kaylea Arnett is overcoming an injury and for her to win both events was pretty inspirational. With Logan Shinholser hitting the board in the 1-meter and then coming back and win the 3-meter was a great. I am very pleased with all of our diver’s performances today heading into the ACC Championships.”
The H2Okies will jump back into the water when they host the two-day Virginia Tech Invitational on Feb. 4.