Kentucky Swimming & Diving Falls to Indiana, Women’s Team Defeats Indiana State
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In its season debut, the University of Kentucky women’s swimming and diving program bested Indiana State, 251-49, while dropping a close 162-138 decision to Indiana on Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcat men fell 171-115 to the Hoosiers at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington.
Kentucky got the meet off to an exciting start as Caitlin Brooks, Bailey Bonnett, Izzy Gati, and Riley Gaines won the opening 200 medley relay in a combined time of 1:39.77, over a half second ahead of runner-up Indiana.
Gaines was a double-event winner for the Wildcats, sweeping the 50 free (23.06) and 100 free (49.77) in the season opener. The senior co-captain was also the runner-up in the 200 free with a time of 1:48.44.
The Wildcat women swept the backstroke events in true UK fashion, with Brooks claiming the 100 back (54.66) and Sophie Sorenson winning the 200 back (1:58.18). Lauren Poole finished second in both of those events, stopping the clock in 54.74 and 1:59.49, respectively.
Other UK victories included Gillian Davey in the 200 breaststroke (2:12.36) and Izzy Gati in the 200 fly (2:00.84). Bonnett placed second in both the 100 breast (1:01.81) and 200 breast (2:12.74) as well as the 200 IM (2:00.94).
Kyndal Knight led the UK diving contingent by taking second on the 1-meter with a score of 275.80 and third on the 3-meter with a final tally of 292.10.
On the men’s side, Danny Zhang won the 3-meter in 383.45 en route to finishing ahead of 2020 U.S. Olympian Andrew Capobianco (378.95). Zhang then went on to take third on the 1-meter, posting a total score of 309.50.
Pacing the men’s team in the pool was Jakob Clark who finished second in the 1000 free (9:16.10) and third in the 500 free (4:31.38). Mason Wilby was the runner-up in the 200 fly with a time of 1:47.46 and freshman Jackson Mussler took third in the 200 back (1:49.03) during his first meet as a Wildcat.
Kentucky also posted several fourth-place finishes, including Kyle Barker in the 100 back (51.33), Max Berg in the 200 free (1:40.01), Nick Caruso in the 1000 free (9:20.33), Cooper Drouillard in the 200 fly (1:51.52), John Michael Gordon in the 200 back (1:51.44), and Henry Miller in the 200 breast (2:03.55).
The Wildcat men have a quick turnaround as they are back in action on Friday, Oct. 8 to host Miami Ohio at the Lancaster Aquatic Center at 5 p.m. The women’s squad will dive back in on Friday, Oct. 15 when Ohio comes to Lexington for a 5 p.m. dual meet.
For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.
