University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Orange & White Intrasquad Meet
White Team Wins Annual Intrasquad Meet
September 30, 2016 | Swimming & Diving
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The White team snapped a two-year losing streak to the Orange team with a 413-366 victory Friday at the annual Orange and White Intrasquad Meet at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
Six newcomers accounted for 10 victories between the Orange and White teams, including three-race freshman winners Taylor Abbott for the men (500-yard freestyle, 1,000 freestyle, 200 butterfly) and Meghan Small for the women (200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley).
Nine Vols won multiple events with Abbott, Small and junior Sam McHugh winning three events each. McHugh won a trio of races for the White team: 200 freestyle (1:39.80), 200 backstroke (1:48.80) and the 200 individual medley (1:53.07).
The Orange team had won last year's meet by just one point, 668-667. The White team solidified its victory by winning the women's and men's 400 freestyle relays with McHugh swimming the anchor leg in the men's race.
Small, who was a U.S. Olympic trials finalist this summer in the 400 individual medley, got her college career off to a fast start with two NCAA b-cut times. After winning the 200 freestyle, she got early season provisional times in the 200 backstroke (1:57.44) and the 200 IM (2:01.33).
"We saw great competitiveness today for both the men and women," Tennessee assistant coach Lance Asti said. "A lot of the younger swimmers came up and just competed. We also saw a lot of newer faces who stepped up and won some races who maybe hadn't been favorites in those races in the past. It was a great team effort, and that's the main thing we're looking at right now, how the team gels and brings the competitive fire for this season."
HOW THE MEET WAS WON: Based on competitions earlier in the week, the Orange team entered the meet leading the competition 108-96. The White team got a majority of its points in the men's competition, defeating the Orange team 180-112. The women's Orange team representatives edged out the White team,146-137.
INSIDE DIVING: In his first competition since winning the NCAA championships on the 1-meter springboard, junior Liam Stone threw down big scores to win both springboard competitions for the white team. He won the 3-meter competition in 457.05 and the 1-meter competition in 400.95. Sophomore Rachel Rubadue won both boards in a two-diver competition on the women's side (1-meter - 300.35; 3-meter - 285.80).
Divers chose their dive list, many throwing in newer dives or more difficult dives they have not been practicing lately. Senior Michael Howell even used the dive on 3-meter that he injured himself using at the NCAA Zone Championships in March.
"For the type of training we've been doing, we haven't done a lot of our big dives," Tennessee diving coach Dave Parrington said. "Liam in particular did some fantastic stuff, which is a credit to his discipline in training day in, day out. I was very pleased with Rachel's performance as well.
"We did some easier dives, mixed in with some harder ones. I was very encouraged by what I saw. To see them trying new stuff is a real step in the right direction. Biggest kudos to Michael Howell who showed a lot of toughness and guts that I like to see in our athletes."
BACK FROM RIO: Senior Kira Toussaint is back in college competition after swimming the 100-meter backstroke for the Netherlands at the Olympic Games, placing 18th. On Friday, she won the 100-yard backstroke and placed second behind Madeline Banic in the 50 freestyle. She was also part of the winning 400 freestyle relay.
THE SEASON BEGINS: Tennessee starts its first college meet next weekend with the annual trip to Wilmington, N.C. The Vols compete in a dual meet on Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. and then compete in an open water ocean race on Oct. 8 at 9 a.m.
