University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia (Men)
The Tar Heel Men Fall Short Against The Cavaliers
January 23, 2010 | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 23, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, NC - The No. 14 North Carolina men's swimming and diving team fell to No. 8 Virginia 168-132 in Atlantic Coast Conference action Saturday at Koury Natatorium. The Tar Heels jumped out to an early lead in the meet before the Cavaliers rallied in the second half of action to pull away for the victory.
"The UNC-UVA swim meet is one we look forward to. It is a key match-up and always an exciting meet," said head coach Rich DeSelm. "We are getting close to the conference championships and our training is beginning to take effect. The competition today was definitely a big motivator for the guys to swim season-best times."
The meet got off to an exciting start on the Tar Heel side as the men's team went 1-2 in the 200-yard medley relay. Backstroker Josh Hafkin led off for the men followed by Vinny Pryor, Tommy Wyher and Steve Cebertowicz who touched the wall in first place. The winning relay swam two seconds faster than their season best time finishing in 1:29.03. With the men touching in first and second, it gave them a quick lead of 15-2 after the first event.
The distance swimmers continued to maintain the Tar Heel lead by finishing second and third in the 1000-yard freestyle. All three Tar Heels, Joe Kinderwater, Chip Peterson and Sean Lane achieved season-best times in this event.
Junior Tommy Wyher led the competition in the 100-yard backstroke, touching in first place by almost two seconds and obtaining a season best time of 47.91 seconds. Sophomore Jim Flannery came in third from an outside lane with another season best of 49.99.
reaststrokers Vinny Pryor and Flynn Jones continued the momentum in the Tar Heels' direction by going 2-3 in the 100-yard breaststroke.
The 200-yard butterfly was another fast event for the Tar Heels. They were led by freshman Tom Luchsinger who had an outstanding swim while going a career best time of 1:48.21, just barely off of an NCAA "B" qualifying time.
"I was very surprised with my swim since I am not rested or shaved," said Luchsinger. "The last 50 was very painful, but to achieve a personal best and then have my teammates right behind me was icing on the cake."
Teammate Tyler Harris finished close behind Luchsinger in second and Jason McLaughlin captured fourth place putting the Heels ahead 64-48.
The 50-yard freestyle was another close race between the Heels and the Cavaliers. Steve Cebertowicz finished in second by a slim .09 seconds, holding onto the Tar Heel lead by nine points.
Freshman diver Ryland Jones held his own on the one-meter by placing second.
After the first break, as could be expected, the meet was close and was actually tied at 75 going into the 100-yard freestyle.
Virginia was ready to rally coming out of the break, taking first place in the first three events, but the Tar Heels didn't back down as they attempted to stage a late rally.
Junior Tyler Harris put up a fight in the 200-yard breaststroke, coming from behind in the packed field and finishing in second with a season best time of 2:00.62.
Distance teammates Chip Peterson and Joe Kinderwater traded places back and forth in the 500-yard freestyle with Peterson touching in second and Kinderwater in third.
Wyher continued to dominate in the sprint stroke events in the 100-yard butterfly winning the event by over a second going a time of 48.20. Robert Grimmett-Norris finished in fourth with a season best time of 50.05.
"The swims of the meet were definitely by Tommy Wyher who won both the 100 butterfly and backstroke," said DeSelm. "The amount he won by is very impressive. He dominated the field in both his individual swims and on the relay. You can tell he is primed and ready for championships season."
Ryland Jones had another second place finish on the three-meter board with a score of 305.03.
After the second break, Tyler Harris took first in the 200-yard IM with another season best time of 1:49.39.
The Heels finished the meet in the 400-yard freestyle, touching in both second and third.
"I can't wait to get another shot at Virginia at the conference championships," said Luchsinger. "We are a solid team and will use this loss as motivation because we are a group of guys who hate to lose."
The men will compete again tomorrow at Duke with a Carlyle Cup point on the line. UNC currently leads the Blue Devils 6.5-2.5 points in the 2009-10 competition. The Tar Heels will be back in Chapel Hill to host the Wolfpack from N.C. State for Senior Night on February 5 at 6 p.m.
Individual Event Winners
Men 200-yard medley relay: UNC 1:29.03
Men 1000-yard freestyle: Taylor Smith (UVA) 9:01.84
Men 200-yard freestyle: John Azar (UVA) 1:37.86
Men 100-yard backstroke: Tommy Wyher (UNC) 47.91
Men 100-yardbreaststroke: Thomas Casey (UVA) 55.81
Men 200-yard butterfly: Tom Luchsinger (UNC) 1:48.21
Men 50-yard freestyle: Scot Robinson (UNC) 20.40
Men 1-meter diving: Briggy Imbrigilia (UVA) 324.68
Men 100-yard freestyle: Scot Robison (UVA) 44.20
Men 200-yard backstroke: David Wren (UVA) 1:49.59
Men 200-yard breaststroke: Thomas Casey (UVA) 2:00.01
Men 500-yard freestyle: Taylor Smith (UVA) 4:26.27
Men 100-yard butterfly: Tommy Wyher (UNC) 48.20
Men 3-meter diving: Kevin Moore (UVA) 307.80
Men 200-yard IM: Tyler Harris (UNC) 1:49.39
Men 400-yard freestyle relay: UVA 2:58.40
