Jan. 28, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Behind wins in 25 of 32 events, the University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams defeated the University of Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday at the Lancaster Aquatic Center with the men claiming a 192-101 win, and the women claiming a 169.5-116.5 win.
“We had a few really good swims,” UK head coach Gary Conelly said following the meet Saturday. “We are entering the taper phase of our season, so we could show up and be all over the place, and that’s kind of how we were today. There were some really good swims.”
Tyler Reed led the Wildcats again on the men’s side, swimming his best-ever time in a dual meet in the 50-freestyle, pacing the field with a 20.53 in that event. Also, in the 200-freestyle, Reed recorded a 1:38.95.
“I’m really excited about the way Tyler Reed is swimming right now. The 1:38.95 in the 200-free looked really easy, so I am pretty excited about that,” Conelly said.
In the 100-butterfly, Tripp Crosthwaite led the field with a 41.91, claiming first place in that event. Crosthwaite also served as the leadoff swimmer in the 200-freestlye relay team that earned a 1:27.56, taking home first place in that event.
“I really have to give credit and point out Tripp (Crosthwaite)’s performance today. I was really happy with his 100-butterfly and I thought it was a real good meet for him,” Conelly said.
Kristen Wilson had one of the best meets of her career Saturday, swimming a 23.46 in the 50-free and taking home first place. Wilson also served as a member of the 200-free relay team that swam a 1:35.05, which was good enough for first place.
“Kristen (Wilson) went pretty close to lifetime-best times today, so I feel like she is in pretty good shape,” Conelly said.
Saturday was also senior day at the Lancaster Aquatic Center, as the Wildcats honored eight swimmers who have dedicated their all to the UK swimming and diving program.
“It’s always nice to send the seniors out with a win, but it’s even better when you swim well in that meet, and the seniors across the meet swam well,” Conelly said.
It was another great day on the diving boards for the UK diving team, and yet another record broken for defending Southeastern Conference Freshman Diver of the Year Greg Ferrucci.
“Overall the team was fantastic today,” UK diving head coach Ted Hautau said. “We had a real tough week of training this week. We had a lot of volume trying to train for the SEC Championships in a couple of weeks. They stepped up and competed really well.”
Ferrucci posted a 418.65 in the one-meter competition, smashing his own school record by over 20 points. Ferrucci finished first in the one meter, and three-meter competitions, pacing the field with a 423.75 in the three-meter. The 423.75 was just six points shy of the UK program record, which Ferrucci owns.
“Greg (Ferrucci) was great today. I didn’t think he was going to dive that well based off of what I saw in warm-ups, but he just did a fantastic job all day for us and really came through,” Hautau said.
Sarah Chewning also had a fantastic day for UK, winning both the one-meter, and three-meter competition with scores of 291.83 and 297.45, respectfully.
“Sarah was really good up on three meter today, and I am looking forward to this team’s performances as we head towards the end of the season,” Hautau said.
Kentucky will next take to the waters against in-state rival Louisville on Feb. 3 in Louisville, Ky.
For continuing coverage of the 2011-12 swimming and diving team and the latest-breaking news, log on to UKAthletics.com.
