University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia (M)
Tar Heels Swim and Dive Narrowly Edged by Virginia
January 20, 2007 | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 20, 2007
Chapel Hill, N.C. - After four consecutive event wins, the North Carolina men's swimming and diving team stormed into a neck-and-neck race with perennial ACC powerhouse Virginia with just five events remaining. However, the Cavaliers held off the Carolina charge to seal the meet with one event remaining. The Tar Heels haven't beat Virginia in a dual meet since 1998, but Carolina has closed the gap considerably in the past few years. The 24-point deficit this year and last year's 17-point defeat have been the team's closest margins during the streak.
Despite the loss, the Tar Heels day was highlighted by several impressive individual performances, especially from the two of team's four captains. Junior captain Rob Swendiman won both sprint freestyle events with season-bests in the 50 free (20.80) and 100 free (45.51). Swendiman also swam the second leg of Carolina's first place 400-yard freestyle relay team. Fellow captain Keith Laabs swam the third leg of that relay and took home the 100-yard backstroke victory in a season-best 49.83.
Senior diver Ryan Funderburk also had a banner day with wins in both the one- and three-meter diving competitions. It was the fourth time this season that Funderburk had swept the two diving events. Freshman Jeff James picked up Carolina's other event win with a career-best 1:47.11 in the 200-yard backstroke.
The Tar Heels take to the pool again on Tuesday, January 23 at North Carolina State.
MEN'S EVENT WINNERS
200 Yard Medley Relay--Virginia (Bryan Stahl, Vanja Rogulj, Lee Robertson, Rich Hutton), 1:30.80.
1000 Yard Freestyle--John Millen (UVA), 9:07.01
200 Yard Freestyle--Pat Mellors (UVA), 1:39.58
100 Yard Backstroke--Keith Laabs (UNC), 49.83
100 Yard Breaststroke--Rogulj (UVA), 54.47
200 Yard Butterfly--Stefan Hirniak (UVA), 1:47.59
50 Yard Freestyle--Rob Swendiman (UNC), 20.80
One Meter Diving--Ryan Funderburk (UNC), 307.43
100 Yard Freestyle--Swendiman (UNC), 45.51
200 Yard Backstroke--Jeff James (UNC), 1:47.11
200 Yard Breaststroke--Rogulj (UVA), 1:59.77
500 Yard Freestyle--Millen (UVA), 4:28.55
100 Yard Butterfly--Hirniak (UVA), 49.64
Three Meter Diving--Funderburk (UNC), 355.35
200 Yard IM--Mellors (UVA), 1:49.57
400 Yard Freestyle Relay--North Carolina (Hank Browning, Swendiman, Laabs, Zach Swartz), 3:03.43
Players Mentioned
