Gamecock Invitational: Greta Pelzek, Bella Pantano Set Records as South Carolina Women Sweep
Greta Pelzek and Bella Pantano set school records at the Carolina Natatorium as South Carolina swept the wins on the final day of the Gamecock Invitational.
South Carolina dominated the final day to takes it total to 1,988 points on the women’s side, dwarfing runner-up 961.5.
On the men’s side, the University of Tampa wrapped up the overall win with 1,534 points, besting the Gamecocks 1,270.
Pantano went 1:54.20 in the 200 backstroke to take the pool record set by teammate Tia Salcutan last year. Pelzek went 1:54.83 in the 200 butterfly for her third win of the meet, lowering the pool mark in the process.
Pantano was followed by Amy Riordan, who finished second in the 200 back in 1:54.45. The Gamecocks had four of the top six finishers in the event, though that would pale in comparison to later events.
Hayley Mason won the 1,650 free in 16:41.88 to start the session, teammate Alicia Davie second. Dylan Scholes won the women’s 100 free in 49.00, ahead of mates Aubrey Chandler and Peyton Curry.
It would be a sweep of the top four in the 200 breast, Laura Goettler’s time of 2:12.35 leading SC. Pelzek’s win in the 200 fly gave the top five spots to the Gamecocks.
The quartet of Riordan, Scholes, Curry and Chandler eased to victory in the 400 free relay in 3:16.87. Their nearest challenger was more than four seconds back – and it was the South Carolina B relay.
Tampa wasn’t quite that dominant, but they won all but one event. (That went to the hosts, Mark Shperkin tying the pool record by taking the 100 free in 43.25 seconds, with teammate Michael Laitarovsky third.)
Tampa’s Jacob Hamlin went 15:01.66 to win the mile, obliterating the school record by more than eight seconds, taking down a mark that existed since 2009. Parker Knollman added another win by claiming the 200 back in 1:43.53. Jared Mindek (1:58.99) and Richard Polasek went 1-2 in the 200 breast. Santi Corredor picked up his third win of the meet with a time of 1:46.24 in the 200 fly.
Tampa finished the day by setting a school record in the 400 free relay, Blake Moran, Ian Cooper (second in the 100 free), Tibor Tistan and Caleb Brandon going 2:53.39. The Spartans were also second.
Connor Fry and Umut Yildrim went 2-3 in the mile for South Carolina. Wylie Kruse was the runner-up in the 200 back, as was Rateb Hussein in the 200 fly.
