Jan. 19, 2002
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams each picked up a victory on Saturday as the men outscored No. 9 South Carolina, 124-119, and the women knocked off Arkansas, 156.50-86.50. UK’s women fell to the Gamecocks, 122-120, while the USC women also defeated Arkansas, 148-95.
The UK men (2-4, 1-4 Southeastern Conference), who earlier in the season lost to USC during the SEC East Challenge, were once again led by sophomore Joey Faltraco who picked up a win in the 200 backstroke (1:47.40) and a school-record in the backstroke leg of the 400 IM (49.76). The Union Mills, N.C., native set the previous record of 50.13 just two months ago when the Cats competed at the Nike Cup. He also took home second in the 200 IM (1:51.64).
Also picking up a much-needed first-place finish was junior co-captain Roger Watkins. The school record holder in the 200 breaststroke, he touched the wall in 2:01.86 for the victory in that event. Senior David Kuendig also picked up big points for UK, placing second in both the 500 freestyle (4:43.97) and the 1,650 freestyle (16:19.69).
“The men scored real well,” UK Coach Gary Conelly said. “It is a real credit to the men to come back and beat USC after having lost to them earlier in the year. There was a few times today where they could have dropped their head after USC won an event, but they kept on battling and that paid off for us.”
In the diving well for UK, junior Clayton Moss and Aaron Kirkpatrick were at it again, placing one-two in the one-meter event (335.25 and 322.15, respectively) and then reversing their order on the three-meter with Kirkpatrick scoring a 343.20 and Moss a 333.50.
The UK women (2-5, 1-5 SEC) had a very strong meet against the Lady ‘Backs while coming up just short against USC, whom they too lost to earlier in the year. Sophomore Shawna Sechrist showed her dominance in the 200 backstroke, touching the wall in 2:02.60, nearly three seconds before the second-place finisher.
In the women’s 200 freestyle, freshman Marci Vrooman (1:51.49), senior Carolyn Rader (1:52.47) and sophomore Amanda Bourgeois (1:53.14) swept the top three slots. Freshman Chrissy Miller placed second in the 500 freestyle (4:55.75) and third in the 50 freestyle (24.29).
Divers freshman Trisha Tumlinson (286.10) and junior Kelli Frost (283.25) both met the NCAA qualifying standards on the three-meter while Tumlinson also met it on the one-meter (257.90).
“Overall I thought we swam real well,” Conelly said. “I am really happy with them.”
UK will return to the pool on Saturday, Feb. 2, for its final home meet of the season when it plays host to Cincinnati and Indiana. The meet will begin at 11 a.m.
Final Team ScoresMenUniversity of Kentucky 124119 University of South Carolina
WomenUniversity of Kentucky 156.50 86.50 University of ArkansasUniversity of South Carolina 14895 University of ArkansasUniversity of South Carolina 122120 University of Kentucky
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