Hokie ClubCHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech swimming and diving programs wrapped up its quad meet against Duke, West Virginia and William and Mary on Saturday with the men’s squad going 3-0 in its dual meets and women H2Okies going 2-1.
Sophomore Norbert Szabo led the men on day two where he took first in the 200 and 1650 free. The Budapest native also swam the first leg of Tech’s 400 medley relay team that turned in a top time of 3:00.44.
Senior Jessica Hespeler and junior Klaudia Nazieblo each won two events for the women’s squad and sophomore Ashlynn Peters, the reigning ACC Women’s Diver of the Week, placed second in the one-meter after taking first in the three-meter event yesterday. Junior Ashley Buchter followed Peters in the three-meter with a score of 263.25. Junior TJ Shinholser’s score of 377.65 won the men’s three-meter for the H2Okies.
“I consider Duke to be extremely strong and deep in both men's and women's diving. I was pleased with how we competed with them,” head diving coach Ron Piemonte said. “For Ashlynn to win the three meter and her and Ashley going 2-3 in the one meter shows our competitiveness. On the men's side, I was very pleased with them dominating the three-meter event with Thomas Shinholser coming out with a big win.”
After Hespeler and Szabo took first in the 1650 free, sophomore Ian Ho swam a 20.26 in the 50 free, nearly matching a personal best. Nazieblo’s top and NCAA B-cut time of 54.63 in the 100 back was followed by senior Robert Owen and sophomore Jake Lamparella’s top three finishes that highlighted the action in the 100 breast.
The H2Okies took the top two times in the men’s 200 backstroke led by senior Brandon Fiala with a 2:00.13 followed by junior Justin Edwards. Along with Hespeler and Szabo taking first in the 200 free, freshman Hassler Carroll continued to impress as he placed second in the event with a 1:40.61.
Arguably the most thrilling moment of the day was junior Christopher Wang’s victory in the 100 fly where his time of 49:69 edged out the second place finisher by one one-hundredth of a second. Before Tech finished strong in the 400 freestyle relay, the H2Okies swept the 400 IM thanks to first place finishes from Nazieblo and sophomore Michael Craddock who turned in a 4:02.17.
“It was a strong weekend of competition. Duke looked very strong and should be commended for their weekend as well,” head swimming and diving coach Ned Skinner said. “The other teams also competed very well and it was good college action across the board. We have plenty of work to do and we hope to use these next two weeks to continue with our training and sharpen our important skills.”
The H2Okies will next travel to Pitt for an ACC tri-meet with the Panthers and Notre Dame that begins on Friday, Nov. 4.