Swimming & Diving Has Notable Weekend In Tennessee

Thursday, November 17

Knoxville, Tenn.

All Day

North Carolina

Tennessee Invitational

November 21, 2022 | Swimming & Diving

Complete Results (PDF)

By: Jody Jones

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The UNC swimming and diving teams took a challenging field during at the 2022 Tennessee Invitational over a three-day stretch at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Nov. 17-19.

The meet included nationally ranked teams Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia on both sides. The meet was scored as three separate dual meets with the UNC women defeating Michigan for the Tar Heels' only team victory.

It was a strong showing for the Tar Heels women's relay teams with the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 medley relay teams posting NCAA automatic qualifying teams. Fifth-year senior Grace Countie was a part of all three relay squads while Sophie Lindner, Olivia Nel, Greer Pattison and Skyler Smith were each members of two lineups, and Ellie VanNote was on one.

In addition to posting an NCAA A qualifying time in the 200 freestyle, Countie Lindner, Nel and Pattison registered a school record mark of 1:26.99 and a second-place finish.

Smith joined Countie, Nel and Pattison to earn the Tar Heels' lone first-place finish of the meet, winning the 200 freestyle medley relay.

Countie also qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships as an individual in the women's 50 freestyle with a time of 21.64 to place third in the race. She finished sixth in the event at the national championship meet last season.

VanNote recorded NCAA B qualifying times in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly, finishing second in the 100 butterfly.

On the men's side, junior Boyd Poelke broke his own school record in the 100 butterfly with a time 45.48, an NCAA B cut. He also registered a B qualifying time in 200 butterfly as did Patrick Hussey.

Hussey and Alden Crisci placed third and fourth, respectively, in the 400 IM with NCAA B qualifying times.

Aranza Vazquez finished second in the women's one-meter and three-meter springboard competitions. Alex Hart captured third in the men's one-meter diving competition as did Emily Grund on the women's side, each posting NCAA Zone qualifying scores in their respective events.