University of North Carolina Athletics
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Virginia (Men)
UNC Beats Virginia in Swimming & Diving for First Time Since 1998
January 20, 2008 | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 20, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - It had been 10 years since the University of North Carolina men's swimming and diving team had defeated the Virginia Cavaliers in dual meet competition, but all that came to an end Sunday afternoon in the friendly waters of Chapel Hill's Koury Natatorium. Behind a record-shattering performance by freshman Joe Kinderwater and two individual wins each by freshman Tyler Harris and senior Ryan Funderburk, the Tar Heels edged the Cavaliers 151-149 to remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. The last time North Carolina was victorious against the Cavaliers was in Koury Natatorium on January 24, 1998 when the Tar Heels won by a 176-118.
Freshman Joe Kinderwater swam the second fastest time in ACC history and broke the Tar Heel school record in the 1000-yard freestyle to lead the Carolina effort. Kinderwater also won the 500 free in a personal best time while freshman Tyler Harris came through with wins in the 200 fly and 200 breast and senior Ryan Funderburk swept both diving events. UNC's other wins were by senior Robby Swendiman in the 100 free, senior Keith Laabs in the 100 back as well as Carolina's 200-yard medley relay unit.
Carolina won nine of 16 events and overcame a potentially crippling disqualification of two swimmers in the 50-yard freestyle to persevere for the win.
In the first event of the day, the men's 200-yard medley relay, North Carolina took first place by finishing in season best time of 1:30.32. Swimming the relay for the Tar Heels were Josh Hafkin, Robby Swendiman, Tommy Whyer and Jeff James. Virginia took second at 1:30.85 and third at 1:32.26.
North Carolina took the top two spots in the men's 1000-yard freestyle. Joe Kinderwater finished first with a new career-best time of 8:58.09, beating the school record by 4.29 seconds which had been set by sophomore Chip Peterson last year. Kinderwater's time also puts him at second on the Atlantic Coast Conference's all-time best performers list. Virginia's Fran Crippen holds the ACC record at 8:54.56 from 2003. Kinderwater passed at least nine swimmers to move into second place. His previous best time was 9:07.17 which he posted on January 12, 2008 against Clemson. That time was not even in the Top 10 of all-time ACC performers but he shaved 9.08 seconds off that clocking to beat the rest of the field. Sophomore Yi-Khy Saw took second with a career-best time of 9:11.09. Virginia's Taylor Smith finished third with a time of 9:13.39 followed by fellow Cavalier Darren Ankosko who finished with 9:18.13.
In the men's 200-yard freestyle, Matt McLean of Virginia took first posting an NCAA "B" qualifying time of 1:37.73. North Carolina's Jeff James finished second with a time of 1:41.91. Virginia's Kenton Harris took third with a time of 1:42.25 and his teammate John Snawerdt took fourth with a time of 1:43.05.
Virginia's Eric Olesen took first in the men's 100-yard backstroke with an NCAA "B" qualifying time of 48.69. North Carolina took second and third with Josh Hafkin finishing at 49.22 and Tommy Whyer finishing at 49.55. The Cavaliers' Bryan Stahl finished fourth with a time of 50.46.
P.J. Sullivan of Virginia took first in the men's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 56.76. North Carolina's Vinny Pryor took second with a career-best time of 56.78, barely being nipped at the wire. The Cavaliers' John Azar and Tony Colella took third and fourth with times of 57.07 and 58.19, respectively.
The Tar Heels' Tyler Harris took first in the men's 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:48.35. Lee Robertson of Virginia took second with a time of 1:48.76. North Carolina's Jason McLaughlin finished third, posting a time of 1:48.98. The Cavaliers' Ian Vogt took fourth with a time of 1:50.35.
Virginia's Scot Robison finished first in the men's 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.83. Zach Swartz of North Carolina took second by posting a time of 21.07. The Cavaliers took third and fourth with Zachery Kohl finishing at 21.39 and Alexander Germain finishing at 21.56. Two UNC swimmers inadvertently swam in the wrong lanes in the event, denying Carolina a win in the event. The Cavaliers led 72-59 at that point. Nevertheless, Carolina overcame the circumstances it faced to rally for a win in the second half of the meet.
In men's one-meter diving, the Tar Heels' Ryan Funderburk took first with a score of 346.28 points. Virginia's Alex D'Ambrosio finished second with a score of 282.83. North Carolina took third and fourth with David Solarz posting a score of 281.55 and Alex Kenley scoring 271.28.
Robby Swendiman of North Carolina finished first in the men's 100-yard freestyle with a time of 45.10. Virginia took second and third place with Matt McLean posting a time of 45.13 and Scot Robison posting a time of 45.56. The Tar Heels' Zach Swartz finished fourth with a time of 46.33.
North Carolina continued its winning ways by taking three of the top four spots in the men's 200-yard backstroke. Senior Keith Laabs finished first with a time of 1:48.20. Fellow Tar Heels Josh Hafkin and Jeff James took third and fourth posting times of 1:49.60 and 1:49.71, respectively. Virginia's Bjorn Falk finished second with a time of 1:49.40.
The Tar Heels' Tyler Harris took first place in the men's 200-yard breaststroke posting a time of 2:01.99. John Azar of Virginia finished second with a time of 2:02.73. North Carolina's Vinny Pryor took third posting a time of 2:02.89. Virginia's P.J. Sullivan finished fourth with a time of 2:03.19.
North Carolina's Joe Kinderwater finished first in the men's 500-yard freestyle with an NCAA "B" qualifying and career-best time of 4:26.04. The Cavaliers took second and third place with Darren Ankosko posting a time of 4:27.69 and Taylor Smith posting a time of 4:30.03. Yi-Khy Saw finished fourth for the Tar Heels with a time of 4:30.68.
Virginia took the top two spots in the men's 100-yard butterfly. Eric Olesen took first by posting a time of 49.52. Fellow Cavalier Lee Robertson finished second with a time of 49.82. North Carolina took the third and fourth spots with Tommy Whyer finishing at 50.02, and Jason McLaughlin finishing at 50.47.
North Carolina's Ryan Funderburk finished first in the men's three meter diving with a score of 393 points. Alex D'Ambrosio took second for the Cavaliers with 324.53 points. Tar Heels Alex Kenley and David Solarz took third and fourth for the Tar Heels, scoring 302.85 and 295.05, respectively.
John Azar took first for the Cavaliers in the men's 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:50.54. The Tar Heels' Tyler Harris finished second with a time of 1:50.95. Virginia's Tony Colella took third posting a time of 1:53.08. Andy Brake took fourth for the Tar Heels with a time of 1:53.13.
North Carolina went into the final event, the men's 400-yard freestyle relay, needing to finish at least second to secure the victory. The Tar Heels did just that, finishing at 3:02.92. Swimming for North Carolina were Robby Swendiman, Jeff James, Josh Hafkin and Zach Swartz. Virginia took first with a time of 3:01.76 and third with a time of 3:05.61. The Tar Heels took fourth posting a time of 3:09.85.
North Carolina improved to 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the ACC with the win. Virginia is now 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.
The Tar Heels return to action on February 1, when they take on North Carolina State at Koury Natatorium.
Players Mentioned
