Tennessee Sweeps Louisville in Road Meet

Thursday, November 2

Louisville, KY

2:00 PM

University of Tennessee

Louisville

November 02, 2017 | Swimming & Diving

Photo Gallery Meet Results

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Tennessee swimming and diving team swept Louisville on the road Thursday at Ralph Wright Natatorium.

The No. 15 Tennessee men (5-1) won 9 of 16 events to defeat the No. 13 Cardinals 170-130. Backed by a trio of two-event winners, the No. 12 UT women won 10 of 16 events in a 156-144 victory over No. 11 Louisville.

Tennessee junior newcomer Colin Zeng, already a two-time SEC Diver of the Week, led the Vols with two events on the men's side. He won the 1-meter springboard with a score of 357.00 and then set a facility record with a season-best 439.65 on 3-meter as part of a 1-2-3 Tennessee finish.

The women had three multi-race winners in the pool. Senior Micah Bohon won the 100-yard backstroke (54.43) and the 200 backstroke (1:57.15), sophomore Tess Cieplucha took first in the 500 freestyle (4:48.43) and the 400 individual medley (4:11.22), and reigning SEC Swimmer of the Week Erika Brown won the 200 butterfly (1:57.32) and followed with a win in the 100 butterfly (52.70).

Additional event winners for the Tennessee women included: Amanda Nunan in the 1000 freestyle (9:59.34), Ana Celaya Hernandez on the 3-meter springboard (320.85) and Rachel Rubadue on the 1-meter springboard (300.38).

The Tennessee men had an all-around team scoring effort in the pool with six swimmers winning a race.

Kyle DeCoursey won the 200 freestyle (1:38.18) and followed with two second-place finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyle; Matthew Garcia won the 100 backstroke by one hundredth of a second (48.34); Peter John Stevens won the 100 breaststroke (53.93); Taylor Abbott took first again in the 500 freestyle (4:24.61); Ryan Coetzee won the 100 butterfly (47.95); and Sam McHugh touched the wall first in the 400 IM (3:52.88).

Both the men and women led off the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay. Louisville won the 400 freestyle relay to end the meet.

QUOTES

Head Coach Matt Kredich:
(Opening statement)
"We just competed really well from beginning to end. We didn't have any letups as a team. Louisville is probably the most energetic team we have faced this year, and we had to match or exceed their intensity. I thought we did a great job of that. We've had close races and winning more than our share."

"Tess Cieplucha had an incredible meet. The 200 free, 500 free, 400 IM were all the best she's swam in season. Taylor Abbott did the same in the men's 500. The 500s were huge moments in each meet. We were in need of wins in both of those events, either to cement the lead for the men and keep the lead for the women. Taylor's race was aggressive.

"We had more extraordinary performances for Erika Brown in the fly. Matthew Garcia and Ryan Coetzee won close races in the 100 back and 100 fly and those were pivotal moments as well. Our first relays were good from beginning to end."

(On Micah Bohon's rise in backstroke)
"Micah's really come into her own. One of the challenges for Micah is she swims so many events well. This year, we needed someone to step up in the backstroke, and she's stepped up each time. She won two events in backstroke against Louisville, and she's leading off our 400 free relay as well. It's a new role for her, and she's really flourishing in it."

(On seniors Ryan Coetzee, Peter John Stevens and Sam McHugh getting wins)
"All three of those guys are really critical for our team. It's not that we take them for granted, but we count on them. Peter had one of his best in-season times. Same for Sam. One of the challenges for those guys has been for them to use those races as learning opportunities. The trend for each has been to get better and better as the season goes along. It's been the commitment to improvement that has helped the culture for the team. Same for Liam Stone. They've had far-reaching meaning for us."

Diving Coach Dave Parrington
(Opening statement)
"Overall, I was really pleased with the level of competitiveness as a whole in a somewhat tough environment. It was good to see the divers step up to the challenge in a meet where every point was extremely valuable to aid the whole team effort.

"Colin had another good day. He won the 1-meter in solid fashion. On the 3-meter, it was an epic battle between Colin and Liam (Stone) that came down to the last dive. I was pleased to see Liam to find some form as he gets himself into his normal competitive side. Will Hallam was part of that 1—2-3 sweep on 3-meter as well.

"On women's 3-meter, Ana Hernandez pulled out a big win in a competitive field with a season best. The 1-meter was during an important part of the women's meet. The top four or five were throwing great dives, but Rachel came out on top."