University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia (Men)
UNC Falls To #13 Virginia 156-144
January 24, 2009 | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 24, 2009
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. - No. 13 Virginia edged No. 14 North Carolina 156-144 in collegiate dual meet men's swimming Saturday afternoon. Each team won seven of 14 individual events, but the defending ACC champion Cavaliers prevailed by winning both relays and outscoring the Tar Heels by 14 points in those two events.
Despite the loss the Tar Heels swam one of their best meets of the year as the team members combined to record 21 season best times and seven career best clockings. Sophomore Tyler Harris and junior David Solarz each won two individual events while junior Jeff James, redshirt sophomore Chip Peterson and sophomore Tommy Wyher each recorded single individual event victories.
UNC is now 4-3 in dual meets this season and 2-1 in the ACC. Virginia is 7-2 overall and it leads the conference with a 4-0 mark.
Individual winners for Carolina included Chip Peterson in the 1000-yard freestyle (9:03.72), Tommy Wyher in the 100-yard backstroke (48.91), Tyler Harris in the 200-yard butterfly (1:47.35), David Solarz in one-meter diving (303.0), Jeff James in the 200-yard backstroke (1:47.63), David Solarz in three-meter diving (344.63) and Tyler Harris in the 200-yard individual medley (1:48.57).
The Tar Heels have five of their seven career bests in the two butterfly events. Harris went 1:47.06 in the 200 fly to move into fifth place on UNC's all-time Top 10 list. Harris' previous career best was 1:47.35. Jason McLaughlin improved on his career best by .02 of a second as he went 1:47.71, becoming the 10th fastest individual in school lore. Freshman Victor Leclere bettered his previous career best at 1:49.12 (old best was 1:49.53).
In the 100-yard butterfly, freshman Brad Hamilton had a career best 49.73 while McLaughlin also went a personal best 49.74. Other personal bests were by Flynn Jones in the 100-yard breaststroke at 57.20 and sophomore Andy Brake in the 200-yard backstroke at 1:52.79.
The Tar Heels had a season best in the 200-yard medley relay at 1:30.83. Joe Kinderwater had season bests in the 1000 free (9:03.88) and 500 free (4:27.55); Hank Browning had season bests in the 200 free (1:40.16) and 100 free (46.37); Tommy Wyher had a season best on the 100 back (48.91); Josh Hafkin had season bests in the 100 back (50.36) and 200 back (1:51.95); Vinny Pryor had a season best in the 100 breast (56.16); Robert Grimmett-Norris had season bests in the 200 fly (1:50.91); Brad Hamilton had a season best in the 50 free (20.84); Victor Leclere had a season best in the 100 fly (50.33); Andy Brake had a season best in the 200 IM (1:52.08); and Evan Reed had a season best in the 100 free (44.79).
UNC will host its home dual meet season finale next Friday versus Duke at 6 p.m. at Koury Natatorium. It will be the final home meet for seniors Yi-Khy Saw, Alex Kenley and Brad Mitchell.
Players Mentioned
