Hokie ClubCHRISTIANSBURG – The No. 25/RV Virginia Tech men’s and women’s swimming and diving team had a solid opening day against rival No. 11/21 Virginia on Friday at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. Tech’s men hold the 110-56 advantage over the ‘Hoos while the women’s team is tied at 83.5.
The Hokies got off to a strong start, finishing first and second in the men’s 200 freestyle relay. The team of Ian Ho, David Herbert, Harrison Pierce and Thomas Hallock took the top spot with a time of 1:20.13 while the quartet of Norbert Szabo, Jake Lamparella, Aaron Boyd and Simon Shi finished just behind in 1:22.25.
Szabo was back in the pool for the next race to take first in the 200 IM with a time of 1:48.23, kicking off a win streak for the Hokies as Tech won three consecutive individual events. Lane Stone followed up with a win in the 500 free (4:27.92) while his teammate Michael Craddock came in second (4:28.99). Justin Edwards took the 100 yard breaststroke (55.25) with Szabo claiming bronze (55.67) in his third event of the night.
Samuel Tornqvist and Sean Workman went two, three in the 200 back with times of 1:48.11 and 1:48.32, respectively.
Ho got the Hokies back in the top spot with his win in the 100 free (44.45) and was followed by Hassler Carroll’s second place finish of 1:49.30 in the 200 fly.
The Hokies wrapped up the evening with a one, two finish in the 400 medley relay. Lamparella, Edwards, Pierce and Ho finished in 3:17.03 while Workman, Szabo, Carroll and Herbert tallied a time of 3:20.45.
Tech was solid on the boards as Eduardo Castro-Silva won the 3-meter with a score of 355.50, leading the Hokies to a sweep of the event. Jack Gigliotti came in second with a score of 347.62, edging teammate Thomas Shinholser who tallied 347.55.
The women’s team also started the evening off with a win as Joelle Vereb, Adriana Grabski, Maggie Gruber and Danielle Griggs swam a top time of 1:32.28 in the 200 free relay.
Reka Gyorgy led Tech to a one, three finish in the 200 IM, winning the event in 2:00.72 while Klaudia Nazieblo finished third in 2:01.94. Gyorgy’s win was the first of top times in four consecutive events for the Hokies.
The Hokies went one, two in the 500 free as Jenna Beattie recorded a time of 4:55.71 followed by Eleanor Matheson’s 4:56.86. Vereb won the 100 yard breaststroke in 1:02.85 with teammate Kelly Henry taking third in 1:03.75. Tech’s Emily Meilus swam a 1:57.34 to win the 200 back with Chloe Hicks finishing third in 1:58.92.
Grabski was third in the 100 free (50.53). In the 200 fly, Nazieblo took second (1:58.07) followed by Gruber in third (2:01.97).
The Hokies wrapped up the evening with a third place finish in the 400 medley relay off swims from Meilus, Vereb, Gruber and Grabski with a time of 3:41.96.
Ashlynn Peters scored 279.53 to finish third in 1-meter diving.
The Hokies and ‘Hoos will be back in the pool for the second day of competition on Saturday, Jan. 13 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.