Oct. 23, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams fell to Indiana Saturday at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind.
The women’s side won four events, all freestyle events, but fell to the back-to-back Big Ten Conference Champions 156-129. Meanwhile, the men’s side won three events but fell 155-126.
The women’s side was led by Kayla Sergesketter, who won the 100- and 200-freestyle races, and was the anchor in the victorious 400-freestyle relay. Sergesketter, a Jasper, Ind., native, swam the 100-free in a time of 50.96, and the 200-free in a time of 1:51.91. The 400-free relay, led off by Mandy Myers, then Chelsea Peterson, Kristen Wilson and Sergesketter, tapped in at a time of 3:26.80.
“Kayla Sergesketter had one of her best dual meets ever with two best in-season times, two individual wins and swimming the anchor leg on the winning relay,” Kentucky head coach Gary Conelly said.
Sophomore Megan Eppler also had a strong day. Eppler, who swam a personal best in the 50-freestyle last weekend, bested her time yet again this weekend with a time of 23.96. Eppler also earned second-place marks in the 100- and 200-backstroke. Eppler swam the 100-backstroke in 58.79, and the 200-backstroke in 2:04.63.
The men’s side was led by junior Matt Russell. Russell won the 100-breaststroke with a time of 57.54. The Augusta, Ga., native was also the second leg in the victorious 200-medley relay. That relay team, which had freshman Anthony O’Driscoll lead off, followed by Russell, Stephen Wimmer and Colin Faris, tapped in at 1:32.30.
“The men had an outstanding medley relay with a blazing 20.1 anchor leg by Colin Faris,” Conelly said. “Steve Wimmer, Will Heidler and Anthony O’Driscoll looked very impressive in their first NCAA swim. O’Driscoll’s performance in the 200-back was very impressive. Matt Russell’s 100-breast was a dominating swim from start to finish. I felt like both teams took a big step forward.”
Freshman diver Greg Ferrucci won his first event of his collegiate career with a score of 359.25 at the three-meter event.
“Lisa Faulkner and Greg Ferrucci both had very solid performances against one of the best diving squads in the country,” Conelly said.
Travis Green and Colin Faris also had strong days for the Cats. Green had a pair of second-place finishes in the distance-freestyle events. Green swam a 4:51.61 in the 500-free, and a 9:56.88 in the 1,000-freestyle. Faris, meanwhile, earned a pair of second-place finishes in the sprint-freestyle events. Faris swam a 20.85 in the 50-freestyle, and a 46.43 in the 100-freestyle.
The Cats will hit the pool again Oct. 30 for their first home meet of the year. Kentucky will go up against Tennessee in that meet. Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for all men’s and women’s swimming and diving news.
