Hokie ClubDURHAM, N.C. – The Virginia Tech swimming and diving program made its presence known Saturday afternoon at the Taishoff Aquatic Pavilion located on Duke’s campus. The H2Okie men swept the entire event, defeating the host Blue Devils, 208-92, No. 15 Florida State, 162-136 and UNC Wilmington, 232-68. The Tech women cruised past the Seahawks, 243-57 and Duke 197-99, but fell to the No. 25 Seminoles 179-120.
The meet started out in the H2Okies’ favor. The women finished the 200 medley relay second, while the men remained undefeated on the season and took the event. The quartet of Zach McGinnis, Nathan Hoisington, Karl Botha and Joe Bonk came in at the 1:29.94 mark to record their third title this season.
After the women went 3-4-5 in the 1000 freestyle, the men recorded its second event of the day when Jake Ores touched the wall at 9:24.02 to collect the second event for Tech. Alex Lutterbein followed his teammate a whole 10 seconds later, coming in at the 9:34.80 mark to clinch second place.
Following a Katarina Filova’s second-place finish in the women’s 200 freestyle, Owen Burns kept the H2Okie men’s winning-streak alive with a time of 1:40.26 for the first-place finish.
Heather Savage recorded the first title for the women. The senior charted a time of 55.53 to win the 100 backstroke. McGinnis matched Savage’s performance and won the event for the men, coming in with a time of 48.75.
Savage continued to make her mark, winning the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:01.59. Freshman Kayla Iverson also racked in points, placing fourth. Morgan Latimer placed second on the men’s side with a time of 1:49.65.
Freshman Holly Harper was the top Tech finisher in the 200 backstroke. She came in at the 2:03.28 mark to finish second. McGinnis matched her finish, also placing second on the men’s side. Collin Higgins followed in third with a time of 1:50.10.
Ores was the final individual winner for the H2Okie men. The sophomore came in at the 4:35.90 mark to win the 500 freestyle. Latimer followed in at second, while Lutterbein placed fourth.
Savage clinched the women’s final title and remained undefeated for the day with a first-place finish in the 100 butterfly. Iverson followed Savage with a third-place finish in the event.
In the diving competition, Logan Shinholser swept the men’s side. The senior scored a 397.10 in the 3-meter and a 370.40 in the 1-meter. Ryan Hawkins placed second behind Shinholser in the 1-meter, scoring a 343.65.
Kaylea Arnett and Kelli Stockton gathered points on the women’s side. Arnett took the 3-meter with a score of 356.60, while Stockton came in third by hitting a 335.70. In the 1-meter event, Arnett placed third and Stockton took fourth.
In addition to the five divers that hit their NCAA Zone marks yesterday, John Trope recorded a 320.90 to place sixth and qualifies in his second meet of the season.
Tech closed the meet winning the men’s 400 freestyle event. The team of McGinnis, Lucas Bureau, Emmett Dignan and Bonk came in at the 3:02.10 to help lift the H2Okies over the three competing squads.
The H2Okies will continue on the road next weekend when they travel to Georgia Tech to take on the Yellow Jackets and the Florida Gulf Coast women on Saturday, Nov. 3. Start time is scheduled at 11 a.m.