West Virginia, Connecticut Split Big East Matchup

The University of Connecticut swimming and diving team split its final conference dual meet of the season at West Virginia on Saturday afternoon. The men suffered their first loss in a dual meet this season falling short to the Mountaineers 178.5-114.5. They are now 5-1 on the season and 4-1 against BIG EAST opponents. The women completed the meet in a tie with a final score of 150 putting them at 3-2-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the conference.

The women’s 200 medley relay “A” team opened up big for the Huskies edging out West Virginia’s “A” team for the win in the opening event (1:49.25).

Michael Brocki (Westhampton, N.Y.) picked up the first win of the meet for the men’s team in the 200 freestyle (1:43.40.). He would also score another victory for the Huskies in the men’s 500 freestyle (4:42.85).

Picking up a trio of first-place finishes for the UConn women’s team was senior Ryan Smith (Mechanicsburg, Pa.). Her wins came in the 100 backstroke (58.30), the 200 backstroke (2:05.18) and the 200 IM (2:06.64). Teammate Peterson finished in second place behind Smith in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:06.33.

Freshmen Kristalynn Kempton (Glen Head, N.Y.) and Katie DeVinney (Avondale, Ariz.) both tallied victories for the Huskies with Kempton in the 100 breaststroke and DeVinney in the 200 butterfly.

Sanders and Kearns met again in the 500 freestyle, this time with Sanders touching the wall first at 5:04.26 and Kearns finishing in second at 5:05.75.

The men’s diving team finished in the top three places in the one meter and three meter dives. T.J. Ferguson (Plainville, Conn.) was victorious in both events. Michael Clifford (West Islip, N.Y.) finished the one meter dive in second, while Kevin Thompson (Stamford, Conn.) finished in third. The two swapped places in the three meter event with Thompson placing second and Clifford in third.

Alison Coleman (New Canaan, Conn.) and Liza Marianni (Cherry Hill, N.J.) had a one-two finish in the women’s one meter event. Marianni would capture the win in the three meter dive with Coleman finishing in second and Lauren Jacob (Elmira, N.Y.) in third.

The Huskies will continue to compete on the road Tuesday, January 31, at Holy Cross. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. (ET).