Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech swimming and diving teams continued their winning ways to start the season on Saturday as both the men’s and women’s squads knocked off Gardner-Webb and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
The men beat Gardner-Webb by a score of 167-127 and UMBC 172-126. The No.26 Hokies men’s team improved to 5-0 on the season. The No. 24 women are now 5-1 after beating Gardner-Webb 169-115 and UMBC 171-129.
“The team did a real nice job competing today. I am proud of their desire to race and improve each week thus far. This is a real tough time of the season and they raced well overall. I was pumped for three rookies to get their first college wins in Nathan Pawlowicz, Sean Workman and Danielle Griggs. We hope to build on this heading into next weekend,” head coach Ned Skinner said.
Jessica Hespeler won the 1,000 free with a time of 10:13.66 and was followed by Sydney Pesetti with a time of 10:21.13. Hespeler also won the 200 free in 1:50.36.
The top 200 medley relay teams from Tech both took home victories. On the women’s side, Klaudia Nazieblo, Alyssa Bodin, Maggie Gruber and Caroline Buscaglia took first with a 1:43.35. The men’s team comprised of Zach Switzer, Brandon Fiala, Drake Becksted and Ian Ho posted a winning time of 1:30.99.
Pawlowicz and Michael Craddock finished first and second in the 1,000 free with Pawlowicz recording a time of 9:39.21. Fiala won the 100 breast in 56.38 seconds. Michal Szuba was the top finisher in the 200 free with a time of 1:36.78.
In the men’s 1-meter diving event, all four divers hit NCAA Zone qualifiers for the second straight day.Mauro Castro-Silva won his first diving event of the season with a 359.02. Castro-Silva followed it up with another win and an impressive 402.68 in the 3-meter event.
“The guys are performing at a level that could make a lot of programs in the conference nervous. Mauro Castro has been putting up some really nice performances, they all have, and I’m thrilled forJack Gigliotti to have a great weekend hitting zone scores on both boards,” head diving coach Ron Piemonte said.
The women’s 1-meter was highlighted by another victory from Ashlynn Peters and a NCAA zone qualifying score from Leah Piemonte. Both Piemonte and Peters have now hit their NCAA zone marks in the 1-meter and the 3-meter. Peters and Piemonte finished first and second in the 3-meter as well.
“Peters has maintained a really high level of performance remaining undefeated in all events. Leah Piemonte is stepping up with her zone qualifying scores on both boards and some really solid second place finishes behind Ashlynn,” Piemonte said.
Auriane de Premilhat and Pesetti finished back-to-back in the 100 back with times of 58.11 and 58.21, respectfully. Nazieblo won the 200 fly with a time of 2:00.02 and Gruber and Logan Williams followed her in that order. Nazieblo narrowly missed the NCAA B cut in the event which is 1:59.59. Buscaglia took first in the 100 free with a time of 52.21 seconds. Danielle Griggs won the 50 free with a 24.06
Zach Switzer won the 100 back with a time of 50.03. Lucas Bureau reached the wall first in the 200 fly edging out teammate Steffen Erickson with a 1:51.71. Sean Workman won a closely contested 200 back with a time of 1:50.07, .10 seconds ahead of second place.
The top Tech teams in the men’s and women’s 400 relay both placed first.
The teams will open ACC play at home next Friday and Saturday as they welcome Notre Dame with Pittsburgh to the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.