Tar Heel Women Secure First Win of the Season

Thursday, October 26

Columbia, S.C.

4:00 p.m.

North Carolina

South Carolina

Caroline Baldwin U.S. Nationals Backstroke

Caroline Baldwin places first in 100-yard backstroke against South Carolina.

Photo by: Justin Caterline

October 26, 2017 | Swimming & Diving

Complete Results

COLUMBIA, S.C.- The University of North Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving teams continued their 2017-2018 campaign Thursday with a dual meet against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C.

The 19^th-ranked Tar Heel women beat the 22^nd-ranked South Carolina women 159-141. As for the men, South Carolina defeated the Tar Heels 168-132.

"We had two outstanding dual meets against South Carolina. It was a good rivalry. We were competitive throughout and had some great races and diving," commented Head Swimming Coach Rich DeSelm. "I think one of our goals was to learn from our meet at Georgia a few weeks ago and try to improve. We had a lot of people do that. It was pretty gratifying. We were able to advance our season both individually and as a team."

Caroline Baldwin and Caroline Hauder both won two individual events and swam on the victorious 200-yard medley relay. Baldwin also competed on the victorious 400-yard freestyle relay. Baldwin won the 100-yard backstroke in 53.28 seconds and swam the 100-yard freestyle in a quick 49.07. Hauder won both her 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke in 1:01.81 and 2:15.32 respectively.

"Caroline Baldwin is going to be right among the leaders in every race," DeSelm exclaims. "I can't say enough great things about her ability and leadership. It is invaluable."

The Tar Heel women were also victorious in two other individual events. Emma Cole won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.74, and Bryanna Cameron won the 200-yard butterfly in 1:59.11.

The Tar Heel women won their 200-yard medley relay in 1:40.45 with Baldwin, Hauder, Brooke Bauer and Maddie Smith. The Tar Heel women were also victorious in the 400-yard freestyle relay swimming it in 3:21.56 with Baldwin, Maddie Smith, Emma Cole and Brooke Bauer.

Junior Maria Lohman placed second in the three-meter at 326.25 points and third in the one-meter at 285.37. "I am excited to know she was able to hang with Julia Vincent, who is a Olympian and a world class diver," says Diving Coach Abel Sanchez

Tar Heel freshmen dominated on the men's side. Alvin Jiang won two individual events. He swam the 100-yard backstroke in 48.76 and the 100-yard butterfly in 48.13. Valdas Abaliksta and Dimitrios Dimitriou both had a first place finishes. In the 100-yard breaststroke Abaliksta finished at 54.34 seconds and in the 200-yard freestyle Dimitriou finished at 1:38.03

Finishing off the meet strong, the Tar Heel men won the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:00.09 with Hans Schroeder, Abaliksta, Tyler Hill, J.T. Casey competing.

According to DeSelm, "Valdas is steadily improving every week at practice and getting used to the training. Coach Duncan Sherrard and Coach Michael Baric have done a great job. They have been mentoring him and teaching him. Some of the skills we were looking for Valdas to bring to his competition really came out tonight."

Sophomore Bryan Allen finished second in both the one-meter and three-meter events. Allen scored 338.18 points on the three-meter and 292.43 in the one-meter. Sanchez said, "He is doing some pretty phenomenal things at the moment."

The Tar Heel women finished their second meet 1-1 and the men 0-2. The Tar Heels will host their first home meet of the season on Saturday November 4 at 1p.m. in Koury Natatorium against the Virginia Tech Hokies.

MEN'S TEAM SCORE: SOUTH CAROLINA 168, NORTH CAROLINA 132
TOP CAROLINA FINISHERS IN EACH EVENT--MEN
200-Yard Medley Relay: North Carolina (Alvin Jiang, Michael McBryan, Nick Loomis, Philip Perdue), 2^nd place, 1:30.11
1000-Yard Freestyle: Nick Palmer, 4^th place, 9:31.05
200-Yard Freestyle: Dimitrios Dimitriou, 1^st place, 1:38.03
100-Yard Backstroke: Alvin Jiang, 1^st place, 48.76
100-Yard Breaststroke: Valdas Abaliksta, 1^st place, 54.34
200-Yard Butterfly: Tom Bilden, 3^rd place, 1:50.94
50-Yard Freestyle: Jack Messenger, J.T. Casey, Philip Perdue, 2nd place, 21.00
One-Meter Diving: Bryan Allen, 2^nd place, 292.43 points
100-Yard Freestyle: Tyler Hill, 3^rd place, 45.72
200-Yard Backstroke: Chris Thames, 3^rd place, 1:48.81
200-Yard Breaststroke: Valdas Abaliksta, 2^ndplace, 1:58.54
500-Yard Freestyle: Henry Campbell, 2^nd place, 4:26.66
100-Yard Butterfly: Alvin Jiang, 1^st place, 48.13
Three-Meter Diving: Bryan Allen, 2^nd place, 338.18 points
200-Yard Individual Medley: Henry Campbell, 3^rd place, 1:51.30
400-Yard Freestyle Relay: North Carolina (Hans Schroeder, Valdas Abaliksta, Tyler Hill, J.T. Casey), 1^st place, 3:00.09
Records: North Carolina 0-2, South Carolina 2-2

WOMEN'S TEAM SCORE: #19 NORTH CAROLINA 159, #22 SOUTH CAROLINA 141
TOP CAROLINA FINISHERS IN EACH EVENT—WOMEN
200-Yard Medley Relay: North Carolina (Caroline Baldwin, Caroline Hauder, Brooke Bauer, Maddie Smith), 1^stplace, 1:40.45
1000-Yard Freestyle: Robyn Dryer, 2^nd place, 10:01.47
200-Yard Freestyle: Emma Cole, 1^st place, 1:49.74
100-Yard Backstroke: Caroline Baldwin, 1^st place, 53.28
100-Yard Breaststroke: Caroline Hauder, 1^st place, 1:01.81
200-Yard Butterfly: Bryanna Cameron, 1^st place, 1:59.11
50-Yard Freestyle: Maddie Smith, 2^nd place, 23.21
Three-Meter Diving: Maria Lohman, 2^nd place, 326.25 points
100-Yard Freestyle: Caroline Baldwin, 1^st place, 49.07
200-Yard Backstroke: Emily Slabe, 2^nd place, 2:00.62
200-Yard Breaststroke: Caroline Hauder, 1^st place, 2:15.32
500-Yard Freestyle: Robyn Dryer, 2^nd place, 4:55.40
100-Yard Butterfly: Emma Cole, 2^nd place, 55.05
One-Meter Diving: Maria Lohman, 3^rd place, 285.37 points
200-Yard Individual Medley: Caroline Hauder, 2^nd place, 2:00.92
400-Yard Freestyle Relay: North Carolina (Caroline Baldwin, Maddie Smith, Emma Cole, Brooke Bauer), 1^st place, 3:21.56
Records: North Carolina 1-1, South Carolina 3-2