Oct. 18, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams opened their 2009-10 home season with the men claiming victories over Southern Illinois and the University of the Cumberlands, while the women dropped a tight meet to Arkansas but picked up a win over the Cumberlands Saturday. Collectively the Wildcats registered 19 victories on the day – another impressive start to their seasons.
Arkansas edged UK’s women by a 155-143 margin, while the women defeated the Cumerlands by a 234-42 margin. On the men’s side, UK downed Southern Illinois 172-122 and the Cumberlands by a 210-73 difference.
Helping earn valuable points was junior diver Lisa Faulkner who swept the diving events to earn her first career victories in the Blue and White. Faulkner scored a 264.60 tally on the one-meter and a 281.60 score on the three-meter in her victories. Freshman John Fox also captured his first career victory in the comfort of the Lancaster Aquatic Center when he took the top spot in the three-meter event. Fox scored 314.15 points in his win.
To get things started in between the lanes the women’s relay comprised of juniors Chatham Penrod and Lindsey Graessle, senior Megan Pulskamp and sophomore Kelsi Hall tapped the wall in a time of 1:43.05 to capture first in the 200-medley. Penrod took the backstroke leg with a split of 26.32, followed by Graessle in the breaststroke leg with a time of 29.19. Pulskamp was the butterfly leg and came in with a time of 24.73. Hall anchored in the freestyle leg closing with a time of 22.81.
On the men’s side, UK’s quartet of seniors Warren Grobbelaar, Julio Vallette, Elvis Burrows and Alex Forbes earned first with a time of 1:31.79. Grobbelaar was first in the backstroke leg and earned a 23.86 split. Vallette took the breaststroke leg in a time of 25.68, followed by Burrows’ butterfly leg in a time of 22.10. Forbes finished in the freestyle portion of the race with a time of 20.15.
Junior Kayla Sergesketter earned UK’s first individual win of the day when she topped the field in the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:51.27. Junior Tyler Reed matched her feat on the men’s side with a time of 1:41.03 in the event. Senior Kyle Greene tapped in second with a clip of 1:41.65.
Penrod clocked in a time of 56.58 to win the 100-backstroke. She would then tie with teammate sophomore Claire Archibald for second in the 200-back with a time of 2:03.04.
Vallette and sophomore Grant Cooksey formed a one-two punch in the 100-breast with UK taking the first two slots. Vallette clocked in a time of 57.41 with Cooksey coming in at 59.28. Vallette would go on to also capture the 200-breast for his first dual-victory meet of his career. Vallette won the 200-breast in a time of 2:09.09.
On both the men’s and women’s side the UK sprint freestylers dominated their competition. Hall placed first with junior Jenna Newsome coming in second in the 50-free. Hall tapped in a time of 23.48 with Newsome finishing in 23.65.
The men earned the top four spots in the event for the second consecutive meet. Senior Eric McGinnis (20.20) was followed by Forbes (20.57), junior Colin Faris (21.24) and senior Chris Richard (21.57).
Sergesketter won her second event of the day when she took first in the 100-free in a time of 50.99. On the men’s side, UK swept the event going one-two-three. Forbes touched first in a time of 45.33, followed by McGinnis (45.83) and Faris (47.62).
Sophomore Adam Twer won his first event of the year when he topped the field in the 200-backstroke. Twer earned the win in a time of 1:53.19.
Reed and sophomore Morne’ Boshoff finished in the first two slots in the 500-free. Reed clocked in a time of 4:40.12 with Boshoff finishing in 4:41.87.
Grobbelaar led a sweep of the 100-fly with his time of 49.43. Forbes was second with a time of 49.92 and Burrows clocking in at 50.44 for third.
UK wrapped up the meet with wins in the 400-free relay. Newsome (52.65), Sergesketter (51.73), sophomore Chelsea Peterson (52.33) and Hall (51.43) won the event in a time of 3:28.19.
On the men’s side, McGinnis (46.59), Reed (46.54), Faris (46.46) and Greene (46.04) clocked in a time of 3:05.73 for the win.
Kentucky returns to the water on Oct. 30 when both squads travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the Volunteers. Meet time is set for 3:00 p.m. ET.
For the most up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky swimming and diving squads please visit UKathletics.com.
