CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. –On Senior Day, the Virginia Tech men's and women's swimming and diving teams rolled to wins over the competition. The men's team defeated George Washington 197-91 and had the 185-108 decision over Cincinnati. On the women's side, the Hokies downed JMU 192-106, defeated George Washington 213-85 and had the 175-123 win versus Cincinnati.
The Hokies recognized 12 seniors prior to the start of competition, including Michael Craddock, Danielle Griggs, Ian Ho, Jake Lamparella, Eleanor Matheson, Chris Outlaw, Sydney Pesetti, Ashlynn Peters, Leah Rogers, Ben Schiesl, Norbert Szabo and Sean Workman.
"It was a good meet for many reasons," said head coach Sergio Lopez Miro. "It was senior day and last night we had a senior banquet and it was very exciting to really see how supportive the Hokie swimming and diving families are. We had 170 people and it was a very nice event for our seniors and their families. Today was the culmination of our senior weekend and we had our students walk in with their parents and be recognized, it was a really good day.
(1/19/2019) 2019 SWIMMING & DIVING SENIOR DAY
HOKIES MEN
The men got off to a strong start with a one, two finish in the 400 medley relay. Jake Lamparella, Norbert Szabo, Antani Ivanov and Ian Ho teamed up to win by more than five seconds, recording a time of 3:16.48.
Tech's quartet of Sam Tornqvist, Simon Shi, Hassler Carroll and Lane Stone swam a 3:21.12.
The Hokies followed up with three consecutive wins. Freshman Brennen Doss claimed the win in 9:25.90 while teammate Stone was third with a 9:29.97.
Szabo took first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:38.45, finishing ahead of Blake Manoff with 1:40.33. Lamparella won the 100 backstroke with a time of 48.86 while Tornqvist was second in 50.12. The Hokies got the win from newcomer Antani Ivanov in the 200 fly as he swam a 1:46.79.
The Hokies had a big 50 free event behind Ho's first place, 20.07. Thomas Hallock and David Herbert tied for second with a time of 20.59.
After the break, Tech followed up with a similar performance in the 100 free event. Ho took first in 44.58 followed by Lamparella with a second place 44.70. Hallock rounded out the top-three with 45.46.
Tornqvist claimed his first win of the day, securing the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:49.26. Ivanov had his second first place finish of the day as he swam a 4:29.33 in the 500 freestyle. Szabo led a trio of Hokies in the 100 butterfly with a time of 48.87. He was followed by freshman Blake Manoff in 49.51 and Alex Hines in 49.75.
On the boards, the Hokies claimed first and second on both the 1-meter and 3-meter. Ben Schiesl won on the lower board with a score of 389.05 while Noah Zawadzki recorded a score of 356.55. On the 3-meter, the order was flipped with Zawadzki taking first with 392.70. Schiesl had a second-place score of 376.30.
"I was really pleased with how Ben and Noah just dominated the competition," said diving coach Ron Piemonte. "Noah came out with a huge win on 3-meter, displaying some of the most difficult dives ever being performed in the country and handling them very well. It was a really good day for the Hokies on the diving boards."
The Hokies exhibitioned the final two swim events: 400 IM and 200 free relay.
"We have been training very hard and so I have mixed thoughts about the way we swam," said Lopez Miro. "It was hard for them to move following the training, but we just need to get in there and make sure to continue getting ready for the conference meet. The good thing is that all of them have been working very hard. I feel very confident that we are going to have a very good end to the season."
HOKIES WOMEN
Virginia Tech opened the day with the win in the 400 medley relay off swims from Margarita Ryan, Joelle Vereb, Kayla Purcell and Abigail Andrusin , finishing with a time of 3:46.58.
The Hokies followed up off a third-place swim by Loulou Vos in the 1000 free, recording a time of 10:15.88. Reka Gyorgy placed second in the 200 free (1:51.34) followed by Danielle Griggs in third (1:52.87).
Ryan got the Hokies a win in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.06 while Emily Meilus was second in 57.09. Vereb added another win for the Hokies, claiming the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.60.
Tech added a pair of third place finishes with Anna Landon's 23.94 in the 50 free and Andrusin's 51.85 in the 100 free. Meilus led a one, two finish in the 200 back with a time of 2:01.29. Gyorgy was just behind in 2:01.87.
Vos had her second top-three finish of the day, this time winning the 500 free in a time of 4:57.93. Jeanna Beattie was third in the event (5:02.76). Gyorgy won the 400 IM with a time of 4:22.65, finishing just in front of Jessica Beattie with a time of 4:27.94.
In diving, the Hokies took first in both the 1-meter and 3-meter. Regan Westwood led a trio of Hokies on the 3-meter, finishing with a score of 306.15. Izzi Mroz was second with a tally of 305.25 while Teagan Moravek finished third (293.49). Moravek was the top finisher in 1-meter though with a score of 300.10.
"I was really happy to see how some of the younger divers stepped up today," said Piemonte. "Regan winning the 3-meter with Izzi right there with her against a really strong JMU and Cincinnati women's teams. I was really happy with that along with Teagan, a freshman, stepping up and winning the 1-meter event. Today was very exciting on the diving end."
The Hokies exhibitioned the final event: 200 free relay.
"Today was a very good day to race," said Lopez Miro. "JMU had some very good swimmers and put some very good relays out there on the women's side. Cincinnati and George Washington had some very good swimmers on both sides. We had a very good competition and I am excited for the postseason. It will be exciting to see how our work over the past several months pays off."
Virginia Tech will be back in the pool Feb. 1-3 when the Hokies host the Technotational at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
HOKIES TOP-3s
400 Medley Relay
Women: 1st – Margarita Ryan, Joelle Vereb, Kayla Purcell, Abigail Andrusin – 3:46.58
3rd – Emily Meilus, Baillie Cameron, Molly Sheffield, Anna Landon – 3:51.27
Men: 1st – Jake Lamparella, Norbert Szabo, Antani Ivanov, Ian Ho – 3:16.48
2nd – Sam Tornqvist, Simon Shi, Hassler Carroll, Lane Stone – 3:21.12
1000 Freestyle
Women: 3rd – Loulou Vos – 10:15.88
Men: 1st – Brennen Doss – 9:25.90 | 3rd – Lane Stone – 9:29.97
200 Freestyle
Women: 2nd – Reka Gyorgy – 1:51.34 | 3rd – Danielle Griggs – 1:52.87
Men: 1st – Norbert Szabo – 1:38.45 | 2nd – Blake Manoff – 1:40.33
100 Backstroke
Women: 1st – Margarita Ryan – 56.06 | 2nd – Emily Meilus – 57.09
Men: 1st – Jake Lamparella – 48.86 | 2nd – Sam Tornqvist – 50.12
100 Breaststroke
Women: 1st – Joelle Vereb – 1:04.60
Men: 3rd – Simon Shi – 57.34
200 Butterfly
Men: 1st – Antani Ivanov – 1:46.79 | 3rd – Dylan Eichberg – 1:50.80
50 Freestyle
Women: 3rd – Anna Landon – 23.94
Men: 1st – Ian Ho – 20.07 | 2nd – Thomas Hallock – 20.59 | 2nd – David Herbert – 20.59
100 Freestyle
Women: 3rd – Abigail Andrusin – 51.85
Men: 1st – Ian Ho – 44.58 | 2nd – Jake Lamparella – 44.70 | 3rd – Thomas Hallock – 45.46
200 Backstroke
Women: 1st – Emily Meilus – 2:01.29 | 2nd – Reka Gyorgy – 2:01.87
Men: 1st – Sam Tornqvist – 1:49.26
200 Breaststroke
Women: 3rd – Maya Atkins – 2:22.39
500 Freestyle
Women: 1st – Loulou Vos – 4:57.93 | 3rd – Jeanna Beattie – 5:02.76
Men: 1st – Antani Ivanov – 4:29.33 | 3rd – Hassler Carroll – 4:33.18
100 Butterfly
Women: 3rd – Kayla Purcell – 56.62
Men: 1st – Norbert Szabo – 48.87 | 2nd – Blake Manoff – 49.51 | 3rd – Alex Hines – 49.75
400 IM
Women: 1st – Reka Gyorgy – 4:22.65 | 2nd – Jessica Beattie – 4:27.94
Men: *Keith Myburgh – 3:59.65 | *Sam Tornqvist – 3:59.93
200 Free Relay
Women: * Danielle Griggs, Abby Larson, Anna Landon, Kayla Purcell – 1:34.24
Men: * Jake Lamparella, Ian Ho, David Herbert, Thomas Hallock – 1:19.95
3-meter
Women: 1st – Regan Westwood – 306.15 | 2nd – Izzi Mroz – 305.25 | 3rd – Teagan Moravek – 293.49
Men: 1st – Noah Zawadzki – 392.70 | 2nd – Ben Schiesl – 376.30
1-meter
Women: 1st – Teagan Moravek – 300.10
Men: 1st – Ben Schiesl – 389.05 | 2nd – Noah Zawadzki – 356.55
*Hokies exhibitioned events