Hokie ClubCHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech swimming and diving team sent their seniors off with a victory on Saturday as the H2Okies defeated Cincinnati and Rutgers at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. The No. 25 men (7-1, 3-1 ACC) defeated Cincinnati, 195-141, while the No. 23 women (6-3, 1-3 ACC) beat the Bearcats, 231-113.5, and Rutgers, 191-157.
"We are really proud of this group. Such a great weekend for our seniors and their families,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “These swimmers and divers have improved our program in so many ways and we appreciate who they are and what they do. We have many new faces that are emerging too. Grace Kowal had her first collegiate win today and Justin Edwards was outstanding too. We are excited about the upcoming championship season."
With tight scores in a couple of the duals after the first day, the H2Okies A relay on the men’s and the C relay for the women swept the 400 medley relay to get the day started. Swimmers Jake Lamparella and Klaudia Nazieblo along with the H2Okie divers helped propel Tech to the three victories.
PERFORMERS OF THE DAY
- Competing the final home dual meets of their career, senior Fiona Donnelly swam a 55.45 to take first in the 100 back and Klaudia Nazieblo placed first with a 54.93 in the 100 fly.
- Freshman Reka Gyorgy turned plenty of heads swimming in her first meet with the H2Okies. She nearly missed a cut time with her second-place time of 55.57 in the 100 back but she did register a B cut time in the 400 IM with a 4:17.10. The exhibition time was 14 seconds faster than the first place time in the event.
- Lamparella swam a 50.16 in the 100 back and swam the first leg of the H2Okies first place A relay in the 200 medley.
- Junior Mauro Castro-Silva scored a 385.35 in the three meter to place first, followed closely behind by junior Jack Gigliotti’s second place score of 385.25.
- Kowal won her first career event with a time of 10:15.09 in the 1000 free.
OTHER NOTABLE SWIMS
- Sophomore Ian Ho was a little more than three-tenths of a second off finishing under 20 seconds in the 50 free but won the event with a 20.36.
- Sophomore Danielle Griggs took second in the women’s 50 free and narrowly matched her seed time with a 23.80 to place second. She also swam a 23.24 in the final leg of the H2Okies’ first place 200 medley relay.
- Freshman Chloe Hicks finished third behind Donnelly and Gyorgy in the 100 back. Hicks swam a 57.16.
- After finishing second in the three meter yesterday, sophomore Ashlynn Peters finished second in the one meter with a score of 301.90.