West Virginia Sweeps Cincinnati

West Virginia University’s swimming and diving team earned two BIG EAST victories against Cincinnati on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Keating Aquatic Center.

The 20th ranked men (9-0, 4-0) dunked the Bearcats, 184-132, while the women (7-2, 2-2) dominated with a final score of 201-114.

“We had a very good day today,” said third year coach Sergio Lopez. “I’m really happy because the team traveled six hours this morning and still put up very fast times. Hopefully we’re on the right track as we get closer to the BIG EAST Championship.”

WVU won 31 of the 36 events and set 18 pool records.          

For the third straight week, junior Pablo Marmolejo led the Mountaineer men with three individual wins. The Mexico City, Mexico, native was victorious in the 200 IM (1:51.99), the 100 fly (49.28) and the 200 fly (1:48.41). All three victories were new pool records.

The women were once again led by freshmen Kitti Veisz and Kayla Andrews. The dynamic duo combined for six individual wins and five pool records. Veisz, a Budapest, Hungary, native, won the 200 IM (2:04.48), the 100 breast (1:03.43) and the 200 breast (2:16.52). Andrews, from Newark, Del., placed first in the 50 free (23.81), the 100 back (58.24) and the 100 free (50.38).

Sophomore Lindsey Largo was the only other Mountaineer with multiple victories, winning the 1650 free (16:50.94) and the 500 free (5:00.03).

Freshman Zoltan Povazsai won the 500 free for the men with a time of 4:41.62, and sophomore Andrew Langenfeld took the 50 free, clocking in at 20.53.

Junior Tina Gabrilo won the 400 IM at 4:27.82, while freshman Stephanie Shupe earned the first in the 100 fly with a new pool record time of 56.67.

Juniors Maritza Paredes, Kevin Donohue and Nick Delic all performed well at the meet. Paredes earned her first individual win of the season, taking the 200 free (1:53.48), while Donohue won the 100 breast (55.89) and Delic the 100 free (45.55).

The rest of the Mountaineer victories came from freshmen. Ivan Tolic won the 100 back (51.56), Justin Galbreath won the 1650 free (16:07.74), Morgan Callaway won the 200 back (2:04.33) and Sean Mahoney won the 200 breast (2:03.58).

The Mountaineers also swept the diving events and the relays.

WVU will next travel on Jan. 26-27 to South Bend, Ind., and compete in the Shamrock Invitational. The meet, hosted by Notre Dame, will take place at the Rolfs Aquatic Center.