Nov. 18, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
The University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams are off to their first major competition of the young season. Starting Nov. 19 the men’s and women’s team will be in Knoxville, Tenn. to participate in the Tennessee Invitational. The championship-like meet concludes on Nov. 22.
Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and the Wildcats will participate in the Invitational this week. Tennessee and UK have already faced each other this season in Lexington, with the Vols outlasting the Blue and White on both the men’s and women’s sides.
The Tennessee Invitational will simulate a championship-like meet with qualifying races in the morning and finals in the evening. The event couldn’t come at a better time as both teams are fresh off their convincing victory over IUPUI.
Against Virginia, Kentucky’s divers shined as both Justin Smith and Jessie Snowden swept the one- and three-meter events. Snowden’s score on the three-meter was a career-high for the sophomore.
Less than 24 hours later the Kentucky swimming teams earned convincing wins over visiting IUPUI. The Wildcat men produced a 107-88 victory, while the women turned in a 123-73 win.
To open up the meet the UK women got off to a fast start with a win in the 200-medley relay. Sophomore Chatham Penrod took the backstroke leg, sophomore Lindsey Graessle swam the breaststroke leg, with junior Megan Pulskamp taking the butterfly leg and freshman Kelsi Hall anchoring with the freestyle leg to take first in a time of 1:48.23.
Junior Eric McGinnis (26.57), freshman Grant Cooksey (27.29) and junior Julio Vallette (27.44) finished in order in the 50-breast.
Seniors James Batley and Matt Bierwirth were the top two finishers in the 100-fly. Freshman Mike Crady’s third place finish helped the home team sweep the event. Batley used a time of 53.32, Bierwirth a 54.37 time and Crady tapped in 54.67 for the Blue and White.
Sophomore Tyler Reed led a trio of Kentucky swimmers to finish in the 100-free. Reed (46.57) was followed in by freshman Morne’ Boshoff (49.27) and Schaler (50.22).
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for more information regarding the Kentucky swimming and diving teams.
