Villanova’s swim and dive teams competed this weekend on the road against Pittsburgh, Duquesne and West Virginia.
The Panthers won the women’s meet, 211-87, and the men’s, 288-70.
The women’s team defeated West Virginia 160-140 and Duquesne 180-120. The men fell short against West Virginia, 231-67.
“This road trip was probably the toughest we have ever faced in terms of logistics,” head coach Rick Simpson said. “But our athletes responded wonderfully. It’s a great sign for the upcoming Big East Championships which will require a week on the road and air travel to Ocala, FL”
Junior Megan Tiernan earned a first-place finish in the 200 Fly, coming in at 1:58.48. Tiernan also clocked a 4:20.09 finish in the 400 Individual Medley, earning second place.
Freshman Anna Kilponen placed third in the women’s 100 Fly with a time of 53.92. This time put her in third place on Villanova’s all-time performers list.
Senior Arabella Lee came in second in the women’s 100 Back in 56.08. Sophomore Alana Leen followed, finishing in third place with a time of 56.13. Leen was coming off being named Big East Female Athlete of the Week after her performance against Richmond and James Madison.
Winnie Jalet finished in second place in the 100 Breast, clocking in at 1:02.88. She also secured fifth in the 200 Breast, finishing in 2:17.81.
Junior Anna Farley came in second place in the women’s 100 Fly (53.79) and third place in the 200 Free (1:48.38).
In the 50 Free, Junior Carlota Colomer Guasch placed third in 23.58. Katie White came in second place in the 500 Free at 4:57.84.
On the men’s side, Nathan Warson won the men’s 1-meter dive. He finished with a score of 338.40.
Sophomore Owen Nye placed third in the 1000 Free (9:32.99) and in the 500 Free (4:38.93). Junior Justin Nowicki also placed third in both his events, swimming 1:48.63 in the 200 Fly and 3:57.92 in the 400 Individual Medley.
On Saturday, the team traveled to Morgantown, WV, to face West Virginia and Duquesne University.
“After a late night travel from Pittsburgh to Morgantown, WV, we bounced back the next morning with another great showing at WVU,” Simpson said. “Again, some great personal performances. And the Women’s team managed to pull off two great wins against a strong Big 12 school (WVU) and a perennial Atlantic 10 power house (Duquesne).”
The meet began with a win from junior Peri Gaguzis in the 1650 Free. She clocked in at 16:58.97.
Senior Winnie Jalet earned first place in the 100 Breast, hitting the wall at 1:02.77. The women were also successful in the 200 Fly, with Farley taking first in 1:58.81.
Freshman Kayla Bolster set three personal-best swims in the meet. She came in second place in the 200 Free (1:49.26), 50 Free (23.59) and 200 Back (1:59.59).
Carlota Colomer Guasch earned first in the 50 Free, coming in at 23.32. She placed second in the 100 Free in 50.65.
For the men, Nowicki had a first-place finish in the 200 Fly, clocking in at 1:48.70.
Sophomore Zach Sutter placed second in the 50 Free (20.75) and the 100 Free (45.95).
Senior Patrick Casey came third in the 1650 Free in 16:08.45, and freshman Hugh Boris added a second-place finish in the 200 Breast (2:01.74).
“This weekend’s performances left the coaching staff feeling very confident in our current preparation for the upcoming Big East Championships,” Simpson said. ”It has been a consistent progressive season of improvement. This is exactly where you want your team to be four weeks from a major championship.”
The men will return home on Jan. 30 against Seton Hall. The women will host Sprintfest at home the next day, on Jan. 31.
